September 25, 2008
HAMMER TIME!
Adventure Aquarium Becomes One of Two Aquariums
In the Country to Exhibit a Great Hammerhead
Camden, NJ - Adventure Aquarium recently became one of two aquariums in the country to exhibit a Great Hammerhead Shark, the largest of all hammerhead species. For many in the Tri-State area, Adventure Aquarium's newest addition provides the only opportunity to see the majesty of a Hammerhead up close and in person.
"Working hands-on with such a magnificent and rarely observed animal is a tremendous opportunity, as there is still so much to learn about this species," said Marc Kind, Adventure Aquarium's Director of Husbandry. "Our team is honored to join the select few aquariums in the country that have had the chance to work with a Great Hammerhead, and we're excited to exhibit this extraordinary species for our guests."
The Hammerhead arrived at Adventure Aquarium on August 29, 2008 and was placed in a special observation area while it acclimated to its new surroundings. Only a few weeks later, the shark was released into the Aquarium's Ocean Realm Exhibit, a 760,000-gallon exhibit home to over 3,000 sea creatures, including Shark Rays, a Zebra Shark, Roughtail Stingrays, and Sea Turtles. The shark is a juvenile male, weighing 80 pounds and measuring nearly 6 feet. Although Great Hammerheads typically grow to about 12 feet, they have been recorded to grow to almost 20 feet. Biologists estimate the shark to be approximately 2-3 years old. Since its release into Ocean Realm, it has been eating and successfully adapting to its new home.
Found around the world in temperate and tropical seas, Hammerheads are known for their distinctive head shape, making them one of the most unusual predators in the ocean. The reason for the unique head shape is a subject of debate among marine biologists. The most common theories are that it enhances the sharks' ability to swim; improves its field of vision; increases its sense of smell; or boosts its reception to variances in water pressure and electrical impulses. Typically found inshore, this species preys on a variety of creatures, but has a preference for sting rays. They locate rays, skates and other prey buried beneath the sand using a group of sensory organs in the front of the head that allow them to detect weak electric impulses in the water.
"I am extremely proud of our husbandry team, which has been working for over two years to make this dream a reality," said Greg Charbeneau, Adventure Aquarium's Executive Director. "While being one of only two aquariums in the U.S. to exhibit a Great Hammerhead places us on the cutting edge of some very important scientific work, our greatest accomplishment is having the opportunity to showcase this beautiful animal to the nearly 1 million guests who visit Adventure Aquarium annually. Through increased public awareness and understanding, our hope is that sharks like the Hammerhead will become revered, not feared."
