Lessons from Care of Whale Sharks in Public Aquariums

Display of whale sharks in public aquariums demands the largest aquarium habitats yet designed and presents a number of significant challenges. Nonetheless, these facilities offer extraordinary opportunities to advance our understanding of whale sharks in ways that are different from, and complementary to, field research. In this chapter, scientists, veterinarians and husbandry experts from two facilities that house whale sharks present data and lessons from their care in public aquariums, including acquisition, habitat design, feeding, behavior management, veterinary care, growth, and reproduction. Approaches to drawing blood are discussed and normal blood values for hematology, clinical chemistry, and fatty acid composition are presented. Future successful breeding efforts with whale sharks in public aquariums may prove the best and possibly even the only chance to answer some of the most pressing questions about reproduction in the world’s biggest fish. Beyond the scientific opportunities, public aquariums will continue to provide a way to raise the public profile of whale sharks because far more people visit these facilities than can (or should) participate in wildlife tourism with this species.