New Addition at Newport Aquarium

Just in time for Newport Aquarium's tenth anniversary next month, the Aquarium announced today the first birth of a sharkray...
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Newport Aquarium Unveils
First Baby Shark Ray Ever on Display in U.S.

Newport Aquarium – already the site of historic firsts in the study of rare and beautiful Shark Rays – announced today that it will be displaying the first Shark Ray pup, affectionately named Sunshine.

Sunshine is less than a year old, weighs about 25 pounds and comes from Penghu Island, off the coast of Taiwan. It’s believed to be the same place from where Sweet Pea, the Aquarium’s female Shark Ray and the first to be displayed in this hemisphere, came.

Newport Aquarium continues to lead the scientific community in the study of Shark Rays. The Aquarium also initiated the first-ever Shark Ray breeding program in the world. By closely monitoring the growth of Sunshine, Newport Aquarium biologists believe they will be better prepared for any future Shark Ray pups that might be born at the aquarium.

“This was the first time a Shark Ray has ever been transported so far, so young,” says Mark Dvornak, fish curator at Newport Aquarium. “Her size and youth make her an extraordinary animal from which to learn. Newport Aquarium is committed to raising awareness about this species, in the hopes that public education will inspire global conservation efforts – not just for Shark Rays but for all endangered aquatic life.”

Sunshine will be on display in the Coral Reef display, a 60-thousand gallon “tunnel” exhibit through which visitors walk and are surrounded by aquatic life.

This week also marks the fourth anniversary for Sweet Pea at the Newport Aquarium. A two-week celebration from April 4-12 will highlight the species.

For more information on Newport Aquarium or for hours, tickets and directions, visit www.newportaquarium.com.


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Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. You’ll be amazed at all there is to see and do, including fun and interactive activities, like touching a shark or meeting penguins. Like its sister aquarium, Adventure Aquarium, on the Camden Waterfront, Camden, NJ, Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family Entertainment company (www.hfecorp.com) and a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a leader in global wildlife conservation. Newport Aquarium is open to the public 365 days a year and is located only two minutes from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee. For information, visit www.newportaquarium.com or call 859-261-7444.
FACT SHEET

How old is Sunshine?
Estimated birth is around July 1, 2008, making her 9-10 months old.

How long has Newport Aquarium had her?
She has been off site at the Aquarium’s warehouse facility, where Aquarium staff could monitor her health since December 3, 2008.

How big was she when she arrived? How about now?
She was about 6 pounds and 1.5 feet long when she arrived. She is now almost 25 pounds and a little over 3 feet long.

How does that compare to Sweet Pea and Scooter when they arrived?
This simple chart shows the weights and sizes of each Shark Ray on arrival and now:

On Arrival Now
Sweet Pea Around 40 pounds, 4 feet Around 200 pounds, 6.5 feet
Scooter Around 100 pounds, 4 feet Around 125 pounds, 6 feet
Sunshine Around 6 pounds, 1.5 feet Around 25 pounds, 3 feet


From where did she come?
Sunshine came from Penghu Island, Taiwan. We think it was the same place where Sweet Pea was collected.

What does Sunshine eat?
Lobster, shrimp and a variety of fish.

Will she get as big as Sweet Pea and Scooter?
Probably, but so little is known about the species. By gathering important data about the animal, Newport Aquarium is leading the scientific community in Shark Ray research. The Aquarium also initiated the first-ever Shark Ray breeding program in the world. By closely monitoring the growth of Sunshine, we’ll be better prepared for any future shark ray pups that might be born here at the aquarium.

Will she be part of the Shark Ray Breeding Program?
We hope so, but it could be a long time for her to reach maturity.

How big is the Coral Reef tank where she will be staying?
The Coral Reef tank is 60,000 gallons.





Will she eventually be moved into the big shark tank? When?
It’s hard to say when. It will be entirely based on Sunshine’s growth and her acceptance of the new environment. We’d like her to grow to about the size Sweet Pea was when she was added to the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit (roughly 4 feet long).

Was anything unusual about her journey here?
This was the first time a Shark Ray has ever been transported so far, so young. Her size and youth make her an extraordinary animal from which to learn. Newport Aquarium is committed to raising awareness about this species, in the hopes that public education will inspire global conservation efforts – not just for Shark Rays but for all endangered aquatic life.

How is she fed and will she eventually be trained to “target feed” like Sweet Pea and Scooter?
Sunshine is currently hand fed by a diver. After she becomes more comfortable in the new tank then divers can begin training her to target feed the same way that Sweet Pea and Scooter are fed. But it will likely take some time, since the animal is still so young.

Who will be her tank-mates in the Coral Reef exhibit?
There are two shark species in that exhibit with Sunshine: two Zebra sharks and two Zebra Bullhead sharks. Other fish in the Coral Reef tank include a variety of colorful Indo-Pacific reef fishes.