KLCC Aquaria Part 3 - Sharks and the Underground Tunnel

Aquaria boasts of a 90-meter long underground tunnel, an immersive experience that allows you to walk while sharks and manta rays hover over you. Flash photography is not allowed, but the Malaysians seem to be enjoying breaking this rule. With flashes blaring right from the start, I ventured to try my luck using a flash; and I did so – scot-free! Still I wouldn’t recommend it.

The place is dimly lit. In fact, I witnessed a Muslim girl stepping on her full-body drapes and painfully sliding down the stairs. I heard a shriek and a loud thud down some 7 steps. This happens when you pay more attention to your boyfriend than the steps before you. Cavorting inside an Aquaria full of kids has its drawbacks. Luckily for her, someone was closeby to console her sore backside.

Facts about Sharks

1. At birth the baby shark is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long already; as it grows it may reach a length three times that.
   
   
2. It is impossible to out-swim a shark - sharks reach speeds of 70 km/h (44 mph). Humans can run about 35 km/h (21 mph).
   
   
3. Sharks and rays also share the same kind of skin: instead of scales, they have small tooth-like spikes called denticles. The spikes are so sharp that shark skin has long been used as sandpaper.
   
   
4. Sharks are immune to all known diseases.
   
   
5. The pup (which is what a baby shark is called) will live its life at the top of the ocean's food chain. As the largest predatory fish in the ocean, great white sharks are the top predators of the sea. But before it grows larger, the pup must avoid predators bigger than it is-including other great white sharks.
   
   
6. Many baby sharks do not survive their first year.
   
   
7. Young great white sharks eat fish (including other sharks) and rays. As it grows, the shark's favorite prey becomes sea mammals, especially sea lions and seals.
   
   
8. Sharks count on the element of surprise as they hunt. When they see a seal at the surface of the water, sharks will often position themselves underneath the seal. Then they swim upward at a fast sprint, bursting out of the water in a leap called a breach, and falling back into the water with the seal in their mouths.
   
   
9. Sharks don't chew their food; they rip off chunks of meat and swallow them whole. After eating a seal or a sea lion the great white shark can last a month or two without another big meal.
   
   
10. Female great white sharks usually bear their first young when they are 12 to 14 years old. And if the pups survive their youth, they, too, become predators at the top of the food chain.
    
    
    Acknowledgment: http://www.whereincity.com/india-kids/animals/sharks.htm

Sand Tiger Shark. This photo only courtesy of wikipedia's only truth.

Here are KLCC Aquaria's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):

.:Visitor FAQ .:The Do’s & Don’t’s 1. No littering in the aquarium 2. No food and drinks allowed inside the aquarium 3. Visitors are not allowed to feed the fish 4. Frightening animals is strictly prohibited 5. Flash photography is not allowed 6. Visitors are not allowed to knock on the exhibit glass 7. No smoking allowed .:Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What are Aquaria KLCC’s operational hours? The aquarium is open from 11am – 8pm daily, with last admission at 7pm. 2. Is Aquaria KLCC open to the public on school and public holidays? Yes, the aquarium is open to the public even on school and public holidays. 3. Where can I purchase entrance tickets to AQUARIA KLCC? Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counters located at the main entrance. 4. Does one have to book in advance to enter the aquarium? Tickets are to be purchased at point of entry. 5. Are infants charged for entrance fees? Children below 3 years old do not have to pay entrance fees 6. At what age does a child have to be chaperoned? A child below the age of 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. 7. Is an entrance ticket valid for multiple entries in the same day of visit? No, each ticket is only valid for one visit only. 8. What are highlights of the aquarium? • The 90 metre long underwater tunnel • Rare sand-tiger sharks • The 10 foot long gigantic Arapaima • Touch Pool encounter • Death-defying shark feedings at the Aqua Theatre

Giant Grouper.

Part 1 with photos and information - Piranhas - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/piranhas-ferocious-sea-monsters-etc-at.html

Part 2 - Tarantula, Butterflies, Eels and Horseshoe Crabs - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/klcc-aquaria-part-2-tarantulas.html

Part 4 - Moon Jellies and the Souvenir Shop - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/klcc-aquaria-part-4-moon-jellies-and.html

This is the Eye in the Sky!