The shark exhibits at The Florida Aquarium are not just about displaying “big teeth and predators” but about telling stories: of food webs, deep water and shallow reef zones, human interactions with sharks, conservation issues, and local Florida ecosystems. For example, the Aquarium’s “Habitats” page highlights that visitors will encounte
Species Selection & Husbandry: Sharks Behind the Scenes
Maintaining sharks in a public aquarium is not straightforward. Sharks present notable challenges in terms of husbandry, life support systems, transport, feeding, compatibility with other species, and health monitoring. A useful reference, published by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), notes that although
Origins of the Aquarium and Early Shark Display
The Florida Aquarium traces its roots to the Clearwater Marine Science Center, a private non-profit educational organisation founded on Clearwater Beach, Florida in 1977. In 1986 The Florida Aquarium, Inc. was incorporated and after many years of planning and design the present facility opened in downtown Tampa on March 31, 1995 While the or
Summary and Reflection
In summary, the history of the manatees at Blue Spring State Park is one of ecological opportunity, human recognition, conservation response and ongoing challenge. A spring that once supported indigenous peoples and steamboat landings now supports one of the most significant winter refuges for the Florida manatee. Through research, protection, visi