This Easter, we are excited to showcase the new ‘Shark Wreck Reef’ exhibit, which incorporates a shipwreck theme and is home to several endangered and vulnerable aquatic species including Carrie, a 7 year old Loggerhead turtle.
The newly refurbished walk through tunnel display, formerly known as the ‘Great Barrier Reef’ encompasses an impressive 350 thousand litres of salt water and allows visitors to get up close and personal with over 75 creatures, including a variety of shark species, southern stingrays, moray eels and a giant turtle.
Following a £200k investment and together with the guidance from our Group Curator, Nautilus, a specialist theming company for aquariums and zoos, expertly created the new Shark Wreck Reef display. An extensive three month renovation project has resulted in a beautiful new display with lifelike corals, harbour themed walls and an underwater shipwreck. There is also a new glass viewing area for visitors to get even closer and larger feeding platforms for animal feeding experiences.
Former visitor favourites such as Carrie the Loggerhead turtle, Rufus the Guitar fish and Zane the Zebra shark have returned to the seafront aquarium after a short stay offsite. Residents from this display have also recently welcomed some new tank mates, including a Green moray eel, Blue and yellow grouper, additional Black tip reef sharks, Southern stingrays and shoals of small tropical fish.
Oliver Buttling, Group Curator for Oceanarium Bournemouth says “Our former Great Barrier Reef display is one of our visitors’ favourite exhibits but after 20 years, it was in need of refurbishment. We took this opportunity to and create a stunning new display carefully designed to improve the environment both for the animals living in it and for visitors viewing it. Shark Wreck Reef showcases our incredible sharks and rays and we look forward to wowing our visitors with these as well as highlighting to them the many threats they face in the wild. With a larger group of sharks we also hope for breeding opportunities in the future”.
In addition to the new display, we are offering savings of up to 30% when tickets are purchased online in advance for the duration of the school Easter holidays, so it’s a perfect time to come and say hello to our recently returned residents and their new friends as they explore their new surroundings!
For further information about our Easter offer, CLICK HERE!