Something is Killing the Wale Sharks at GA Aquarium

[Wes]

Tune into CBS news now...it's coming up after this commercial break!

 

[Wes]

they said the second one to die in 5 months died yesterday...Don't know the cause. Critics say it's captivity thats killing them

 

[fritz]

It's me!

 

[scarf_ace1981]

when i heard they had something like 6 whale sharks in their tank i thought it was just rediculous. i don't care how big a tank you have, whales and dolphins should be kept in the sea.

 

[taat2d]

Yeah I agree. The aquarium should be made to release the remaining living HEALTHY whales.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Where's Wingnut :irked:?

 

[meschaefer]

i don't care how big a tank you have, whales and dolphins should be kept in the sea.

Whale sharks are sharks and not whales. They are the largest fish.

 

[meschaefer]

Yeah I agree. The aquarium should be made to release the remaining living HEALTHY whales.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

 

[zxknight]

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

i like that , but from what I heard on the news they thing I is a chemical that is added to the tank to kill harmful bacteria that is killing the shark.

 

[alrha]

good one matt. i dont know a reefer on here who has not lost an organism in their tank. yet there are no calls on here to return our tanks to the sea.

remember that the aquarium (especially public ones) are not only to entertain, but primarily to educate the public so that they will want to preserve and conserve those habitats. Those whale sharks themselves i believe were 'rescued' so every day they lived is more than they would have. Furthermore, by educating the public, they may very well be saving a heck of a lot more than they are losing.

look how much people love dolphins and 'shamu' because of those cute shows they put on at aquariums. if those dolphins were in the sea, most people would not even know what dolphins are and wouldnt care how many were killed to make their can of tuna fish.

 

[kris]

So let me get this straight. They're keeping fish that grow to the size of a bus, and eat nothing but live krill and plankton 24/7 in the wild in a public aquarium? OOK....

 

[meschaefer]

i like that , but from what I heard on the news they thing I is a chemical that is added to the tank to kill harmful bacteria that is killing the shark.

then they are that much closer to figuring out how to overcome their specific problem.

 

[meschaefer]

Those whale sharks themselves i believe were 'rescued' so every day they lived is more than they would have.

That is correct. These sharks where caught in fishermen's nets.

 

[meschaefer]

So let me get this straight. They're keeping fish that grow to the size of a bus, and eat nothing but live krill and plankton 24/7 in the wild in a public aquarium? OOK....

They have kept a number of them since they opened up two and half years ago. They are not having a problem getting them to eat.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i never said whale sharks were whales although my sentence read that way. i just think that these animals,who travel long distances and disappear into the depths of the sea, should be kept in the ocean. you cannot compare these creatures to the fish we keep in our tanks. most of our reef inhabitants stay close to the reef and don't travel as much as sharks, dolphins or whales

 

[kris]

Spot on Jon. I've had one of these swim within 2 feet of my boat. That was 70 miles offshore. That's where they belong.

If they're healthy enough to be kept in a public aquarium, they're healthy enough to be released.

 

[Wes]

i like that , but from what I heard on the news they thing I is a chemical that is added to the tank to kill harmful bacteria that is killing the shark.

it's a theory but the fact is they still do not know the cause of death for the one that died 5 months ago.

 

[alrha]

corals were also impossible to keep years ago, but as a result to our persistent efforts, and despite all the loses we've suffered, we now know a heck of a lot more about them and how to care for them (both in our tanks and in the wild) as a result.
I am sure they learned a lot more about whale sharks and their care by keeping them in captivity than they would have learned had they been chopped up by the fishermen.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I never support nor against keeping large animals like those in a public aquarium because my first impression is that the tanks are too small for them and then I also tell myself those people at the public aquarium may know better than us. This time looks like they don't know better. Hope they can find the real cause.

I think not all the GA whale sharks are "rescued". I kind of remember Japan has given them a couple as a gift. I could be wrong, have to dig up my old newsletters.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I never support nor against keeping large animals like those in a public aquarium because my first impression is that the tanks are too small for them and then I also tell myself those people at the public aquarium may know better than us. This time looks like they don't know better. Hope they can find the real cause.

I think not all the GA whale sharks are "rescued". I kind of remember Japan has given them a couple as a gift. I could be wrong, have to dig up my old newsletters.

You're still in NY right? No trips south in the last few days?? :lol2: