Shark Reef is taking a bite out of the visitor market
With all the attractions that come and go in Las Vegas, it’s nice to know that there’s one in town that definitely has teeth -- and very sharp-serrated ones at that!
Part of the extensive Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino complex, Shark Reef Aquarium is the only predator-based aquarium in North America. And it's home to the rare and dangerous Komodo Dragon, which had its coming-out celebration at the facility last June
Found only on three of the half-dozen Komodo Islands in Indonesia, the Komodo Dragon is the largest living species of lizard, reaching 10 feet long or longer and weighing 125 to150 pounds.
That means Shark Reef attraction could become the next big thing in Las Vegas -- though it could take years to get there, since the Komodo can take its entire life (25-27 years) to get to full size.
By virtue of its sheer size, power, charisma and razor-sharp teeth that can slash and tear prey open (including the deer it loves to eat in the wild), this male Komodo Dragon is a formidable sight. It stands out in the 90,560-square-foot Shark Reef Aquarium even amidst the more than 2,000 perilous predators and unusual aquatic creatures such as sharks, crocodiles, sawfish and piranha.
Shark Reef holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of fresh water and seawater in 14 major exhibits. Unlike other major aquariums and zoo facilities in the United States it has a theme.
Visitors are transported on a journey through an ancient temple in the jungle that has been slowly claimed by the sea and onto the deck of a sunken ship in shark-infested waters.
The aquarium also gives people a different perspective on aquatic life. Look down, and you may see rays resting on the ocean floor. Look up, and you may spot a school of fish overhead. In the temple exhibits, not only do visitors see the animals, but they also feel the mist on their skin, hear birds sing and see exotic flowers all around.
Shark Reef also offers two two-hour educational tours daily Monday through Friday. All activities meet Nevada state educational curricula. Reservations are required for all educational tours. For more details, check out Shark Reef's School Programs & Activities page, or call (702) 632-4555, option 2. Shark Reef also has special programs for Girl Scouts.
A 30-minute, behind-the-scenes guided tour of the facility is now available, as well.
Since 2003, Shark Reef has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This facility was conceived with an international team of aquarium and exhibit designers anchored by Las Vegas architectural firm Klai::Juba.
- by Bobbie Katz, Las Vegas Reporter for HelloMetro
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