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At Discovery Cove in Orlando, there are 150 elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) representing 10 different species on display. The park’s two-million-gallon Coral Reef allows guests the opportunity to swim with, touch and even feed several of the species. These close encounters make a lasting impression, hopefully demystifying sharks and stingrays so that people want to conserve and protect them.
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- With great commitment and attention to detail, the aquarists have conditioned
every one of the elasmobranchs for hand- or target-feeding.
- By conditioning all the animals to recognize separate feeding stations, aquarists
ensure that each animal receives exactly the amount of food it needs.
- Guests participating in Discovery Cove’s “Trainer for a Day” program get to
feed nurse sharks. Although most of the sharks are fed a few times a week, the
nurse sharks have been trained to feed daily, lining up on a ledge when signaled
with a clicking sound.
- Discovery Cove has had excellent success with stingray reproduction since
opening in July 2000. To date, 64 southern rays and 47 cownosed rays have
been born in the Coral Reef and Lagoon. Many of these rays are now living in
SeaWorld parks and other aquariums throughout the U.S. In addition, one of the
eagle rays, all four blacktip sharks and all 12 whitetip sharks at Discovery Cove
were born in BEC parks.
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