The Shark Exhibit at QUA
Thank you for your interest in the sharks at QUA. We’ve had overwhelming response to our shark exhibit and I want to take this opportunity to address specific questions. While the community has been overwhelmingly positive, some people have understandably expressed concern for our marine animals.
The inner structure of the tank itself is solid poured concrete on all four sides. The four 3 inch clear acrylic panels on top are custom built and each weighs over a ton. There is approximately a 9 inch gap between the water surface and acrylic surface. It's physically impossible to disturb the water's surface from above the tank. The visual ripple on the surface is from the tank circulation system housed in a secure and soundproof room approximately 40 feet away.
We have a staff of highly educated and well trained individuals who spent months researching and developing the exhibit. For daily care and maintenance we have an employee who was most recently employed at Miami’s renowned Seaquarium and responsible for the water quality of the entire park.
We are well aware that sharks and other members of the Elasmobranch family have highly adept sensory features including ampulle of Lorenzini, designed to pick up electrical impulses in the water. We carefully observe our animals daily and have seen no signs of stress or change in behavior when people are present or music is played. Still, we have voluntarily contracted with an independent company to run a series of hydrophone tests in QUA. Our control tests will include the club while closed and at all levels of activity. These extensive tests are scheduled to be completed by October 29th and the results will be made public.
Some guests have noticed that some sharks are more active than others. We have two compatible species of shark at QUA, the Black Tip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus Melanopterus) which relies on ram ventilation to pass water over its gills to breathe, and the Leopard Shark (Stegostoma Fasciatum) which, due to a specialized muscle called a gill pump, can lie motionless at the bottom of the water for hours. The natural behavior of these two species might confuse some because the Black Tip requires constant motion while the Leopard alternates between swimming and resting.
Since both of these species (and the rays which share the exhibit) are opportunistic feeders, or scavengers, they will forage, not hunt. They are fed fresh seafood (from Whole Foods) daily. Every shark in the exhibit came to us from an environment where human care was provided. None have come from the wild.
We maintain an offsite facility reserved for any animal that may need special care or medical attention. Contrary to reports that multiple sharks have died recently, we have not lost a single shark that has been living in our exhibit. Unfortunately we did lose a shark in transportation to us, several months before QUA opened.
We understand that some people will never be comfortable with animals living in a man-made space, no matter the size, design, or level of care. To the best of our ability and with considerable resources, we’ve created an environment that we believe is both healthy for our marine life and fascinating to our patrons. The inspiration for our shark exhibit is the amazing Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, an AZA accredited facility.
I want to assure you that my entire staff share your love and respect for these amazing creatures and thank you for your interest and concern. If you have the opportunity to visit, I hope to personally welcome you at QUA.
Sincerely,
Mike Yassine
President and CEO
Yassine Enterprises, Inc.
213 West 4th St., Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701
office: 512 476 7088
Field Trips to the Shark Exhibit at QUA
A TEKS-Based, no-cost field trip for all grade levels.
Field Trips at QUA
Qua is proud to announce that we are now opening our doors to the education community. We are home to a 20,000-gallon exhibit featuring four exotic shark species and four species of stingray. Bring your students for a learning experience unlike any other in Central Texas.
Classes from elementary to high school are invited to see the sharks and take part in TEKS-oriented discussions led by a professional biologist. Students will learn about marine biology, oceanography, geography, food chains and conservation. Each trip can be customized to meet the teacher’s curriculum.
Field Trip Itinerary
Field trips to the aquarium at QUA engage students with three interactive lessons. Each field trip begins with an introductory lesson in which students learn about shark behavior and habitats. Students will also learn what distinguishes fish from other animals and sharks from other fish. Student participation is highly encouraged. After the first lesson, students will view the aquarium. The students will actually see the sharks and rays swimming below their feet! With the help of the guide, students will identify the different species and find their native seas on a large world map. The final lesson focuses on ocean ecology. Students will learn about marine habitats, food webs, conservation, and the effects of global climate change on the oceans.
Field trips to the QUA shark exhibit are not only an exciting opportunity to observe and learn about marine life; each trip is designed to meet TEKS standards. Additionally, lessons can be tailored to meet the varied needs of students or to match the teacher’s curriculum.
Useful Information
- All alcohol will be out of sight during field trips.
- Our sharks were not taken from the wild. Many of our sharks were bred in and rescued from other exhibits.
- The well-being ouf our sharks is very important to us. The sharks have dedicated caretakers and eat restaurant quality seafood.
- We are committed to providing an exciting, educational, and safe learning experience.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at sharktrips@quaaustin.com
Field trips are led by Lewis Weil. Lewis is a biologist visiting QUA from the biotechnology industry. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in molecular and cell biology.