Animal Blog
Monterey Bay Aquarium to Release White Shark
October 25, 2011
After 55 days on display the great white shark housed in the Open Sea Exhibit is being released back into Southern California waters today.
Jon Hoech, director of husbandry at the aquarium, said, “These decisions are always governed by our concern for the health and well-being of these animals under our care.”
Hoech observed the shark having trouble navigating the new one million gallon tank recently and says, “It became clear that it was time to realease him.”
The shark put on nearly nine pounds and two inches during his stay in Monterey.
The juvenile great white will be released in the waters south of Point Conception after being fitted with a pop-up tag that will collect data including depth, location and water temperature he travels for the 180 days after his release. Something the aquarium research team has done with 44 young great white sharks before.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the only aquarium to ever house a great white shark for more than 16 days. In its most successful great white exhibiting endeavor it kept a female white shark healthy for more than six months before releasing her.
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