Published: Monday February 10, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Monday February 10, 2014 MYT 11:24:22 AM
Updated: Monday February 10, 2014 MYT 11:24:22 AM
Aquaria KLCC organises special activities to help raise shark awareness
BY VIJENTHI NAIR AND TRECIA TAN
A shark is spotted at the oceanarium in Aquaria KLCC.
AQUARIA KLCC celebrates Chinese New Year by promoting awareness on sharks being an endangered species.
From now until Feb 16, a string of activities has been planned, including a “selfie” photo contest to shine the spotlight on the species facing extinction.
Aquaria KLCC chief executive officer Datuk Simon Foong said all anyone needs to do is to post a selfie of him or her in support of the shark awareness campaign on the Aquaria KLCC Facebook page to be in the running to win prizes.
A sea turtle casually swims by in the middle of an underwater lion dance performance.
“Join us in making the pledge to say no to shark’s fin soup this Chinese New Year,” he said.
“Your voice counts!”
Foong said other activities include opportunities to learn interesting facts about the great white shark and other sharks that live in the ocean and fresh waters alike.
“There are also specially designed show-and-tell sessions about our in-house breeding programme on bamboo sharks and hands-on activity for children to help prepare food for sand tiger sharks,” he said.
Mother of two Tuan Hui-Wearn, who brought her family, said the programmes were educational, especially for the children, as her son has been interested in sharks lately.
“There is more awareness about the conservation of this endangered species.
“It is great that my children are able to get close to the sharks and get to touch the cartilage and the skin of the shark,” she said.
“I have learnt that sharks do not have bones. They have cartilage,” exclaimed eight-year-old Evan Au-Yong after an educator showed him a sample of shark’s cartilage at one of the many information kiosks.
Visitors amazed by the marine animals in the aquarium.
Aquaria is gearing up to create more interesting exhibitions this year, which would serve both recreational and educational purposes in conjunction with its 10th anniversary celebration in August.
Foong explained that “The Jewels of the Jungle” exhibit that features forest creatures such as snakes and tarantulas will be transformed into an underwater shipwreck, while the “Weird & Wonderful” exhibit will soon be showcasing the in-house breeding method for jellyfish and seahorses.
“Instead of just showing the jellyfish, we are going to turn it into a kind of jellyfish lab where you will see how we breed it from all the different stages of its lifecycle.
“We want to focus more on education itself in terms of the life-cycle of all the fishes, sharks, jellyfish and seahorses.
“A 5,000 square feet area outside the Aquaria will also undergo renovation, as there are plans to build an interactive education hub for visitors.
“These renovations will tentatively be completed by March 2015,” said Foong.
Foong together with the lion dance troupe at Aquaria KLCC.
“You will just have to wait and see what we have planned.
“For now, Aquaria is all set to greet the visitors who are trickling in to check out the events and attractions that are prepared for the festive season.
“For the second year in a row, Aquaria is celebrating the Lunar New Year with what is claimed to be the one and only underwater lion dance performance in Malaysia. We hope to have two lions in the water next year.”
For more information, visit www.aquariaklcc.com.
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