Tiger sharks turn nasty in Dubai Mall aquarium

Thursday, 18 September 2008 6:24 AM

Sand Tiger sharks have killed at least 40 smaller reef sharks and been aggressive towards divers at The Dubai Mall Aquarium, it was claimed on Thursday.

Divers carrying out tasks in the tank, without a cage, have had their equipment damaged and experienced minor injuries due to the behaviour of the sharks, according to UAE daily Khaleej Times.

Yousif Al Ali, general manager of The Dubai Mall, told the paper there had been some incidents at its showpiece aquarium which features 33,000 marine animals and is due to open as part of the grand opening of the mall on October 30.

"During the stages of setting up the aquarium, two cases of minor injuries were reported and were immediately attended to by the on-site medical team," Ali said.

He would not confirm the extent to which aquatic species had been affected by the sharks’ aggression but added: "It is inevitable that aquatic species die — sometimes out of natural causes or out of injuries inflicted by bigger fish species."

Sand Tiger sharks, by nature, are fish-eating. However, all sharks and other animals in the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at The Dubai Mall are currently on a monitored feeding schedule in order to subdue their naturally opportunistic behaviour and appetite.

The Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre features the world’s largest viewing panel and a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel. The centre will feature the world’s single largest school of sharks.

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Posted by: thaira rahman Monday, 23 November 2009 12:42 PM[UAE] - South Africa

hmmm..what about all the aquariums that have sharks in tanks? why isn't that been picked on?

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Posted by: Joe Simm Wednesday, 24 September 2008 11:41 PM[UAE] - USA

Dredging up the beautiful waters off of Dubai to build an island and now scooping the innocent animals out of the water. No respect for nature. Oh look, an indoor ski resort. Dubai puts the 'mental' in environmental

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Posted by: Graham Plater Monday, 22 September 2008 2:06 PM[UAE] - Germany

Well, the justifiably carnivorous tiger sharks seem to have sparked some public interest - how odd that they should insist upon behaving in such a primitive fashion, have they learned nothing about good manners over the past few million years? But let's spare a thought for the equally maladjusted whale shark which was recently "rescued" off Jebel Ali only to land in a hotel's artificial lagoon. I very much doubt that it will ever "recover" enough to be set free again, another Dubai attraction for the ?best/biggest/tallest...? list. What a shame (and something to be ashamed of). These creatures are not on the planet for our entertainment, and deserve respect. But in a place obsessed with vulgar show effects we might yet see the very last white tiger, stuffed and frozen in its last attack leap, forever gracing the slopes of Ski Dubai...

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Posted by: Sean Sunday, 21 September 2008 1:45 PM[UAE]

Sharks are successfully held in 1000's of aquariums around the world without incident. These are minor problems that will be overcome. It sounds like an awesome facility, and I am looking forward to it opening. Marine Biologists... I think not!

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Posted by: rene Sunday, 21 September 2008 8:44 AM[UAE] - UAE

Would you expect a predator to eat on a feeding program. It's a hunter and will hunt !!! For the next mall consider a display with foxes, wolves, chicken and ducks. Put the foxes and wolves on a feeding program and expect them not to hunt down chickens ??? You can't buy nature !!

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