Shark pups update

Many of you have asked for an update regarding the four blacktip reef sharks born last fall at Shedd (check out the video). Animal care is our top priority, which means we carefully manage our entire animal population. Given that our current collection of blacktip sharks is predominantly male, we have relocated the three male pups to other AZA-accredited aquariums or zoos, while caring for the female pup here at Shedd. We are pleased to report that all pups are growing fast and are in good health.

Snorkeling in Cat Cay

More from Shedd's High School Marine Biology participants studying in the Bahamas:

Today we journeyed to a part of Cat Cay that is under construction. It intrigued us to snorkel on this part of the island because we were unsure as to the affect that the construction had upon the natural habitats. Jumping into the water, we began surveying the area and were shocked to see that as we drew nearer to the alleged shore, we could barely see any signs of life at all. We also noticed that the shallow water was quite foggy, which made it hard to see. As we got closer to the shore line we began to notice that dredging that had already occurred from construction. Recognizing this, we were able to decipher from the apparent dredging that most animal life had vanished from the area.

Visiting a shark lab

The second group of High School Marine Biology students have landed in the Bahamas. Here is a blog by two of the participants:

Today we visited a shark research lab on Bimini. We met a researcher named Kat who worked on not only protecting lemon sharks, which is the main species that they study, but also identify a number of other shark species that live in Bimini. She took us out to a pen and showed us some of the baby lemon sharks that they were studying. Some other shark species that live on Bimini are the tiger, bull and the occasional hammer head.

Last day in the Bahamas

The High School Marine Biology program participants share their discoveries from their last day in the Bahamas, and reflect on their entire experience. Here’s a blog post from two of the participants:

We can’t believe that today is our last day in the Bahamas! It has been an amazing trip that none of us will forget. Today we went to Cat Cay to do a beach seine, and had the opportunity to look at the homes being built on the island. Each of us wondered how the building development will affect Cat Cay’s surrounding environment.

Snorkeling above a shipwreck

The High School Marine Biology program participants are in their first week of study in the Bahamas. Here's a blog post and video from two of the participants:

This afternoon we headed to Turtle Rocks and saw starfish, conch shells, laughing gulls, and tons of crabs. After a short ride to the other side of the rocks, we got in the water for a late afternoon snorkel to start our fish ID research project.

Shooting Photos Underwater

The classroom and underwater work of Shedd's Underwater Photography Class for adults was wonderful. In addition to our instructor’s knowledge, ability to teach to different experience levels and availability of practice equipment, being in the Caribbean Reef was a phenomenal experience. This picture of Nickel came as I was hovering about 3 feet over the green moray eel.  I looked up to see Nickel being a little more curious than I had ever expected. Thank goodness for autofocus, because I snapped the shutter more out of reflexive surprise than careful composition. What a great adventure!

Posted by Gene Weiss, photography student

Blacktip Reef Shark Pups

Shedd proudly announces the birth of four blacktip reef sharks.

Posted by Lise Christopher, animal collections

Preventive Health Care for Sharks

Preventive health care plays an important part in keeping our resident collection healthy. Recently, we performed routine wellness examinations on four of our blacktip reef sharks from the Wild Reef habitat.

The day started early with Fishes staff members moving the four sharks from the 400,000-gallon exhibit to the adjoining medical pool. A net deployed and moved by scuba divers along the tank bottom concentrated the sharks near the entrance to the medical pool, where the sharks were individually identified before being moved, one-by-one, into the pool. There the sharks were sedated with a water-soluble anesthetic which was dissolved inside a floating inflatable pool filled with exhibit water.

Then the fish were moved to a special transport on the service deck for the examination. While the sharks’ respiration and heart rates were monitored and they were ventilated with oxygenated anesthetic water, the veterinary and husbandry teams took measurements, collected blood and cloacal washes, evaluated fins, skin, gills, eyes, mouth and body condition and performed cardiac and coelomic ultrasounds.

Shark Eggs

We have three bamboo shark eggs developing on exhibit in Wild Reef. Check them out in the lagoon area. No joke -– the big round object in each egg is the yolk sac. The eggs incubate in about 128 days at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The incubation period is temperature-dependent. While you’re in Wild Reef, be sure to see the juvenile saddleback clownfish that were born at Shedd. You’ll find them in one of the small square habitats between the sharks and the lagoon. The littlest fish is about three-quarters of an inch long. But see them soon –- they’re growing fast!

Posted by George Parsons, fishes   

Photographing Sharks

Ever wonder how we get those up-close and personal photos of the sharks, rays and other fishes in Wild Reef? By diving in with them. Shedd photographer Brenna Hernandez, a certified scuba diver, recently did a photo session in the 400,000-gallon Wild Reef shark habitat. (See a slide show of her pics.) We checked in with Brenna to find out what it’s like to work in the midst of the reef’s big predators.