Great White Shark at Monterey Bay Aquarium

White sharks are becoming increasingly endangered due to terrible fishing practices, so it is critical that every animal we have on exibit is returned to the wild healthy, happy, sane, and ready to contribute to the gene pool. We want nothing more than to re-introduce individuals that are in better condition than they were when we caught them or recieved them from other aquariums.

This is chiefly because the on-staff marine veterinarians have a transport vehicle that requires no more than 6.5 feet, 200 pounds of an animal in it. We would never keep an animal long enough for its physical or mental health to become compromised in any way. Remember, animals on exibit are NOT for enternatinment- they are ambassadors of their species that are around temporarily so they can be safely returned to the wild and contribute to the gene pool.

So- why do we release them in 4 to 8 months? We calculated that that amount of time is what it takes for a 5-foot individual to gain a foot and over a hundred pounds in weight. 6.5 feet, 200 pounds is our maximum size we want these animals to reach before acclimation and return to the wild.

We put the rotation schedule to hard work with the residents of the 1.3 million gallon tank the white shark lives in: We fully understand that keeping a migratory animal capable of covering hundreds of miles in a day is compromising. With that said, our white sharks never stay for more than 8 months. EVER. Our previous two white sharks thrived when they were with us- they gained over a foot in length over about 6 months in that tank, as well as gaining over a hundred pounds each.

All of the fish in the entire Aquarium are on a rotation basis. In other words, our on-staff biologists, aquarists, divers, husbandry officers, and security keep constant tabs on who has been newly acclimated, and who needs to return to the wild. Fish will stay anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the species' habitat, migratory habits, and breeding habits. Nobody stays forever.

Look, people. I'm an employee at the Monterey Bay Aquarium institute. This isn't some cheap aquarium- it's a world leader in marine research and preservation. The whole place was founded by the Packard family on the basis of conserving the oceans, and keeping wild animals wild.

Absolutely Sickening, MBA fed lies upon lies about this shark, This was not a success the shark was almost dead by the time they got rid of it, it had so many problems from running into the tank walls it went deaf blind and basically dead.

holy crud i didnt know it got that big! the last time i saw it it was only 8 ft,!!! it looks like its 13ft. in this!!! wow.

I been in that room and seen the aquarium, I would never feel safe with a great white in a tank no matter how thick the glass is O.O

thx :)
i suppose it's better off in the wild. I mean it would be amazing to see but it's just not right the king of the sea shouldn't be locked up

From what i know about Great White Sharks, (not a great deal) they have no maternal instincts and infact have to "fast" (stop eating) during the time around birth to prevent them eating their young, the young more than likely swim into shallower water after birth and move up the food chain from there.

what about the mother?

No Great White has ever lived in Captivity for longer than half a year they either die within the first 2 weeks because they refuse to feed or the aquarium releases them, the Sharks are caught at a very young age, and capturing a five foot White isn't really that hard compared with a 21 foot White.

Does anyone know what version of the Jaws them this is? I would really like to have it.

if you keep a GWS in captivity do they have a shorter life span? i thought they did....isn't it dangerous to feel such a dangerous shark? i admit it's really cool but how on earth did you manage to capture it?