Marine Life Park
Marine Life Park | |
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1°15′31″N 103°49′07″E / 1.2587°N 103.8186°E | |
Date opened | November 22, 2012 |
Location | Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore |
Land area | 8 ha (20 acres) |
No. of animals | 100,000[1] |
No. of species | More than 800[1] |
Total volume of tanks | 45,000,000 L (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal)[1] |
Website | www |
Resorts World Sentosa |
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Marine Life Park (Chinese: 海洋生物园) is an oceanarium located in Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore and is the largest oceanarium in the world.[2][3] The 8-hectare (20-acre) park houses two attractions, the S.E.A Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark.
S.E.A Aquarium
S.E.A Aquarium, the world's largest aquarium, contains a total of 45,000,000 litres (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal) of water for 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species.[1] The aquarium comprises 10 zones with 49 habitats. The Open Ocean habitat, which is the centerpiece of the Aquarium, includes the world's largest viewing panel. At 36-metre (118 ft) wide and 8.3-metre (27 ft) tall, it is intended to give visitors the feeling of being on the ocean floor.[2]
Adventure Cove Waterpark
The Adventure Cove Waterpark features six water slides, including the region’s first hydro-magnetic coaster, Riptide Rocket; the Bluwater Bay wave pool and tubing along the Adventure River. The 620-metre (2,030 ft) river, one of the world’s longest lazy-rivers, have 14 themed scenes of tropical jungles, grottoes, a surround aquarium and more.[2]
Controversies
The resort originally planned to include whale sharks, but conceded that it might not be feasible to house them and has dropped the plan.[4] There is ongoing controversy over captures of wild dolphins from Solomon Islands and the facilities in which they are kept in Subic Bay, Philippines, some of which have reportedly died. More controversy arose when a Quezon City court on 14 October 2012 issued a 72-hour temporary environment protection order to block the re-export of the dolphins to Marine Life Park. However the ban preventing its 25 captive dolphins from being re-exported to Singapore was lifted on Oct 17 2012 by the same court. RWS spokesperson reiterated that the resort's acquisition of the 25 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins adhere to regulations governed by the United Nations Environment Programme under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.[5]
Another appeal was made and the exports to Singapore were temporarily held. However, once the hold had expired, RWS proceeded to export the dolphins although the court appeal was still ongoing. On the flight to singapore, one of the dolphins, Wen Wen had died. RWS management has failed to answer to activist outcries and has continued to ignore the concerns of many activist. Click here to see an activist video on the controversyhere
References
- ^ a b c d "World's largest oceanarium opens". CNNGo Staff. CNN. 2012-11-22.
- ^ a b c "World's Largest Oceanarium opens at Resorts World Sentosa 22nd November 2012". Resorts World Sentosa.
- ^ "Resorts World at Sentosa - World's leading family holiday destination". E Travel Blackboard. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "No whale sharks at Sentosa IR". 16 May 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Philippine court lifts order preventing export of dolphins to S'pore". Channel News Asia. 17 October 2012.