It’s not your ordinary relocation services when four aquariums come together to move two sand tiger sharks — a female weighing 282 pounds and a male weighing 165 pounds. The NC Aquariums teams executed a well-rehearsed plan that initiated at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) where the sharks first had to be secured in a special cargo net, then quickly attached to a telehandler (a versatile hydraulic lifting machine) and finally transported to a flatbed with a mobile aquarium. Georgia Aquarium provided the mobile aquarium and a crew to support the transport of the sharks.
The first stop was the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (NCAPKS) where the team introduced the male shark into the Living Shipwreck habitat. From there, the Georgia Aquarium team traveled farther north to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island (NCARI) where the female shark is now gliding for the public to see in the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
The two sharks had been at NCAFF for almost a decade in the 235,00-gallon Cape Fear Shoals habitat. The Living Shipwreck is a 306,000-gallon habitat and Graveyard of the Atlantic is a 285,000-gallon habitat. The habitats will provide more space for the animals to thrive as they continue to grow.
“The transport of these two special sharks was amazing to watch,” said Joanna Zazzali, NCAFF director. “We are grateful for the excellent preparation and planning from everyone on the team to execute the transport as flawlessly as possible and especially appreciate the assist from our friends at the Georgia Aquarium.”
Prioritizing the sharks’ safe transport, the NCA veterinary team was on hand during every step of their journey from initial catch up at NCAFF to their arrival at NCAPKS and NCARI. Each team member worked with precision and speed — safely securing each shark, then gently placing them by telehandler into the mobile aquarium and finally, delivering them to their new homes. NCA veterinary and animal care teams rehearsed the process multiple times to ensure they could execute every step of the transport during a short window, limiting the sharks’ time out of the water.
Sand tiger sharks are a special conservation focus for the NC Aquariums, with each facility featuring them in their signature habits and sharing their story with visitors. These sharks, commonly found around NC shipwrecks, provide unique opportunities for divers to experience them in their natural habitats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the sand tiger shark as Critically Endangered on the Red List in 2021 because of decreasing populations globally.
The NC Aquariums also collaborate with other major aquariums and conservation leaders on initiatives to support shark populations in the wild as an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the highest standards in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science and recreation. Initiatives include tagging projects and behavior studies, and Spot A Shark USA, a community science program that engages SCUBA divers in sand tiger shark research along the Atlantic coast. Read more about the NCA sand tiger shark conservation work at NCA Sharks. Also, through participation in AZA SAFE: Shark & Ray (Saving Animals From Extinction), the Aquariums work together with other zoos and aquariums to save elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) from extinction.
NC Aquariums is a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. To visit any of the aquariums, please reserve tickets online at NC Aquariums.
About the North Carolina Aquariums
The North Carolina Aquariums include NCA Fort Fisher, just south of Kure Beach and a short drive from Wilmington, NCA Pine Knoll Shores in the Crystal Coast and NCA Roanoke Island in Manteo and Jennette's Pier in Nags Head. The three aquariums and the pier are a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The mission of the NC Aquariums is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $15 ages 13-61; $13 children ages 3-12; $14 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; NC EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members.
*EBT rate is applicable to a maximum of four tickets.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.