Shark Tank
Dive into the Depths of the Ocean
The Shark Tank, our largest exhibit, holds over 440,000 litres (100,000 gallons) of water and features marine life from the deep coral reefs, including sharks, eels, and vibrant fish.
Meet the Residents
Our Shark Tank is home to a diverse collection of marine life, each species bringing its own unique presence to the exhibit:
Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias taurus)
Meet Spike and Splash, our captivating sand tiger sharks. Despite th ...
Our Shark Tank is home to a diverse collection of marine life, each species bringing its own unique presence to the exhibit:
Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias taurus)
Meet Spike and Splash, our captivating sand tiger sharks. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are surprisingly docile and play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance by controlling prey populations.
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Say hello to Molly, our resident loggerhead turtle, rescued in 2004 after an injury. Loggerheads like Molly help maintain healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs by regulating species that graze on these habitats.
Moray Eels (Muraenidae species)
Discover the mysterious green and leopard moray eels as they slither through the rocks. Their unique body structure and nocturnal hunting techniques make them effective predators, playing a key role in the reef’s complex food web.
Reef Fish
Watch the colourful reef fish, including the venomous fox face rabbitfish, porkfish, and bannerfish. These species contribute to reef health by controlling algae growth and serving as prey for larger predators, highlighting the delicate balance of marine environments.
Uncover the Mysteries of Sharks
Sharks are often misunderstood as ruthless predators, but they are fascinating creatures with unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in the ocean’s depths. Far from the aggressive reputation they’ve gained in popular culture, these ani ...
Sharks are often misunderstood as ruthless predators, but they are fascinating creatures with unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in the ocean’s depths. Far from the aggressive reputation they’ve gained in popular culture, these animals are perfectly designed for survival and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems as keystone species.
One of the most extraordinary features that sets sharks apart is their heightened ability to sense their surroundings. In addition to their keen eyesight and powerful sense of smell, sharks possess a special adaptation known as the Ampullae of Lorenzini. This system of tiny electroreceptors allows them to detect the faint electrical signals produced by other animals’ movements, even when hidden beneath sand or in dark waters. This sixth sense makes sharks exceptional hunters, enabling them to locate prey with precision, even in the most challenging environments.
These adaptations make sharks highly effective predators, but they are also critical to keeping marine food chains balanced, ensuring that ocean ecosystems remain healthy and diverse.
Protecting Threatened Species
While sharks are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, many species are facing unprecedented threats. One of the most destructive practices is shark finning—a cruel and unsustainable method where sharks’ fins are removed, often while they’re s ...
While sharks are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, many species are facing unprecedented threats. One of the most destructive practices is shark finning—a cruel and unsustainable method where sharks’ fins are removed, often while they’re still alive, before the rest of the animal is discarded back into the ocean. Without their fins, sharks cannot swim and soon die, leading to the loss of countless individuals each year.
Driven by the demand for shark fin soup, particularly in some parts of the world, this practice has led to the alarming decline of shark populations. It is estimated that up to 100 million sharks are killed annually, and this exploitation is pushing many species to the brink of extinction. Sharks like our sand tiger residents, Spike and Splash, are especially vulnerable due to their slow reproductive rates, meaning their populations cannot quickly recover from heavy losses.
Sharks are crucial as apex predators, playing a key role in keeping marine ecosystems balanced by regulating prey species. Without them, the entire food web is disrupted, leading to overpopulation of certain species and the degradation of important habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds. This ripple effect can cause long-term damage to the biodiversity of marine environments worldwide.
Discover More
A-Z animal guide
Browse our A-Z guide to learn more about some of our incredible marine species, from sharks and turtles to the colourful reef fish that inhabit these waters.
exploreAdopt Molly!
Personalised adoption packs are available for Molly, our loggerhead turtle. These make great gifts, with all proceeds going directly toward animal care and conservation!
Adopt Now