Great White Shark in captivity sets record

[odannyboy]

Great White Shark Sets Record at Aquarium



By MATTHEW FORDAHL, Associated Press Writer

MONTEREY, Calif. - Thrilling visitors and scientists alike, the only great white shark currently on display anywhere in the world marked its 17th day in captivity Friday, setting a record for longevity in an aquarium tank. The young female, captured off the coast of Orange County in August, spent the day swimming with tuna, stingrays, barracuda and sea turtles at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's massive, 1 million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit.

Unlike dozens of past attempts around the world to keep the great whites in captivity, this predatory fish continues to eat and shows no signs of stress, said Randy Kochevar, the aquarium's science communications manager.

"Everything seems to be going great," he said.
The previous record-holder, a great white held at SeaWorld San Diego in August 1981, was released after just 16 days in captivity. In fact, all other known attempts to keep one in captivity lasted 11 days or less.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium, which last had a white shark on display in 1984, took several steps to help this shark adjust to its new home.

After it was inadvertently snagged in the nets of halibut fishermen, the shark was moved to a 4 million-gallon pen off the Southern California coast. Researchers believe it got used to living in an enclosure before it was trucked to Monterey a few weeks later.

Immediately after it was put on exhibit, aquarium carefully watched the animal 24 hours a day for any sign of trouble. Now, it's monitored by surveillance cameras late at night and staff during business hours.

The animal's young age — and size — also probably helped, Kochevar said.

It's 4-feet, 4-inches long and weighs just 62 pounds. Researchers believe it's about a year old. A full-size female great white shark could grow to about 21 feet and weigh more than a ton. At some point before it reaches maximum size, it will likely be moved elsewhere or returned to the Pacific, Kochevar said. It also will be returned if there's any evidence its health is suffering because of captivity.

In the meantime, researchers will be studying the shark's behavior, growth rate and food consumption in an attempt to answer questions about the little understood species.

But the aquarium's primary reason for keeping it in captivity is to show her off to visitors who might have picked up some misconceptions while watching the 1975 movie "Jaws" or reading about recent shark attacks.

"The reason we have her here is so that our visitors can have the experience of seeing this animal fact-to-face," Kochevar said. "This is what we have found to be the most effective way of changing people's attitudes and behaviors about animals in the wild." Attendance has jumped 50 percent since the shark's arrival, compared with the same period last year, he added.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._white_shark_1

And, right now, there is a Great White right off the coast of Cape Cod, and it is drawing all kinds of visitors as they try to get it back to sea.

[Snowden]

Danny, do you know approximately how large the one off Cape Cod is? When that movie was made, I thought they made up the great white shark. We have quite a nice lot of sharks in the Baltimore Aquarium, but of course no whites.

[odannyboy]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Danny, do you know approximately how large the one off Cape Cod is? When that movie was made, I thought they made up the great white shark. We have quite a nice lot of sharks in the Baltimore Aquarium, but of course no whites.

I do believe they said it was a 12 footer. They had an excellent shot of it from above, and the shark is incredibly docile. It swam right up beside a boatload of people who reached out and touched it. But now law enforcement is not playing anymore, and are keeping people away from it. It was swimming right up to shore, too. I'd always thought that some aquarium had them somewhere in the world, this was news to me.

I am definitely going to the Baltimore aquarium next time I'm there, the one I saw in Seattle was part of the highlight of my trip there in June.

[AT3Weins]

This is cool. I heard about them moving a great white into their 'big tank' but thought it was released. I'm definately going to have to pay a visit there soon and snap a few pics

[filthybeast]

Just think of it Law students from all over can go to Monterey and take a look at what they can become when they grow up!

[odannyboy]

Originally Posted by filthybeast

Just think of it Law students from all over can go to Monterey and take a look at what they can become when they grow up!

Aint that the truth!

[82nd Airborne Dad]

Originally Posted by filthybeast

Just think of it Law students from all over can go to Monterey and take a look at what they can become when they grow up!

GTG Beast . . .