Sharks Kill Sharks at Dubai Aquarium

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) by Richard Ling 2005

If you have been following my blog posts of late, you know I have written more than once in the last month about public aquarium sharks. Well my entries about the great white at Monterey and the swell shark at the Aquarium of the Bay pale in comparison to this story:

"Sharks attack each other in world's biggest aquarium in Dubai; Shark fights in one of the world's biggest aquariums are threatening the opening celebrations of Dubai's flagship new mall."

That was the headline in the Telegraph for an article by Richard Alleyne published on 26 September. "More than ten percent of the sharks in Dubai Aquarium's 10 million-litre aquarium have been killed in attacks that have marred the build-up to its grand opening on Oct 30," opens Alleyne.

The shark-eating-sharks in question? Sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus), sometimes called grey nurse sharks, which can reach 320 cm (10.5 feet) and can be found in all warm seas (except, perhaps, the eastern Pacific).

A New Legend - The Dubai Aquarium

The soon-to-open Dubai Aquarium is located in the soon-to-open Dubai Mall, which is, according to its official website, "A place like no other."

A new day, a new dawn. From the wind swept sands, a new legend rises. A mall of epic proportions that is named The Dubai Mall. Indisputably, the most dramatic retail real-estate development. Not just in the Gulf's history. But in the world.

Wow. That's bold stuff, but it seems there is trouble in this most dramatic retail real-estate development. With just over a month to opening day, the Aquarium, which (according to the Mall's own press release) "is one of the [mall's] most highly anticpated opening day attractions," is having trouble maintaining the peace amongst the world's single largest school of sharks.

According to Alleyne's article, "Sand tiger sharks have killed at least 40 smaller reef sharks and been aggressive towards divers working on final preparations in the giant tank."

Inevitable Carnage

The Dubai Mall's General manager, Yousuf Al Ali admitted, is quoted in the Telegraph as saying, "It is inevitable that aquatic species die–sometimes out of natural causes or out of injuries inflicted by bigger fish species.... Sand tiger sharks, by nature, are fish-eating. However, all sharks and other animals in the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at The Dubai Mall are currently on a monitored feeding schedule in order to subdue their naturally opportunistic behaviour and appetite."

Hmmmmmmm.

Critics Ask Questions

Some critics of the Dubai Aquarium have been inclined to question the appropriatness of housing more than 400 sharks together in captivity, but, seeing that it has never been done before, it's hard to say whether the aggression is due to poor husbandry, poor planning or simply bad luck. Regardless, one might question the motives of why the Dubai Aquarium desired to house the world's largest school of sharks when the Dubai Mall's own literature advertises the shark exhibit as "an adrenaline-fueled visual experience."

The advertising campaign goes on to promise that "Shark and ray-watching will quickly become a favourite leisure pursuit as Dabai Aquarium and Discovery Centre feature the world's single largest school of sharks including 45 sand tiger sharks, 45 grey reef sharks and up to 30 spotted eagle rays." Unfortuantely, the recent carnage caused by the tiger sharks may lessen the leisure, although it's not clear whether it will lessen the attraction given people's uneasy relationship with sharks.

Husbandry In-Line with Accepted Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare Policy

Before being too judgemental of the Dubai Mall's motives, it's worth noting that the Aquarium was developed by Oceanis Australia Group, which happens to be the world's largest aquarium owner and opeartor. They currently have operations in Australia, South Korea, China, and Thailand. Further, according to the Dubai Mall's public relations office, "Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre is being developed in line with an accepted Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare Policy, prescribed by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)."

Mr. Al Ali adds that the Aquarium "conforms to the internationally-accepted best practices in its design, development and management."

According to an article in the Khaleej Times the sand tiger sharks arrived at the Dubai Aquarium in early July. The wild-caught animals had previously been kept in an aquarium in Singapore for at least a year.

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