Recent News

Sea Turtle Nest Found On Beach, 15 Hatchings
Monday, August 17, 2015

The beach at Alexandra Battery in St. George’s is currently closed to public use as a turtle nest was discovered yesterday on the beach, and 15 hatchlings have been found.


Debris Thrown In Ocean Harming Sea Turtles
Monday, August 17, 2015

Residents are being urged not to throw debris into the ocean after another sea turtle was found dead recently.


THE CLASSROOM COMES TO LIFE FOR JAYSUN PAYNTER
Monday, August 17, 2015

What started out as an ordinary summer Sunday morning has turned into the anticipation of an exciting event for one nine-year-old St. George’s boy. Jaysun Paynter, who lives across the street from the Alexandra Batteray beach, tells Today in Bermuda that yesterday started out like every other weekend at home with his parents and siblings


Bringing Bermuda’s legends to life
Thursday, August 06, 2015

Bermuda’s myths and legends are being brought vividly to life thanks to a creative collaboration by Rockfire Productions.


28 Teams Take Part In BZS Reef Watch Event
Thursday, July 23, 2015

Although the weather may not have fully cooperated on Saturday, June 27th, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s annual REEF Watch citizen science initiative, sponsored by Hiscox, has proven to be another successful year.



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Latest News

All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!

Aquarium shark gets his freedom
Royal Gazette
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published Mar 20, 2012 at 12:01 am (Updated Mar 20, 2012 at 8:47 am)

RG_120320_1a.jpeg
There you go: Under the direction of Dr Ian Walker and with the help of Dr Neil Burnie,
a joint crew from the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo and the Bermuda Shark Project,
Osbourne the Galapagos shark, a resident of the North Rock Tank at the BAMZ, was
succesfully released back into the wild at North Rock early on Friday morning.
Osbourne?s nose had become abraided and despite the best efforts of the staff
at the BAMZ it was not healing and a decision was made to release the shark
back into the wild for its continued health. (Photo by Mark Tatem)

Osbourne the shark went from the North Rock Exhibit to North Rock itself as he was released into the wild.

The seven-year-old Galapagos shark has been one of the showpieces of the North Rock tank for the last six years, but principle curator Dr Ian Walker said the shark had issues with one of the tank's other residents, a black grouper.

As a result of the conflict, Osbourne developed a rubbed rostrum (nose).

Staff at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo worked to reduce aggression between the pair by using various training techniques, changing Osbourne's swimming pattern using buoys and using a red circle to indicate where the shark would be fed, keeping the pair separate at feeding time.

Dr Ian Walker, Principle Curator of the Aquarium, said: “Animal training is fairly complex and best done through positive feedback or rewards for performing the wanted behaviour. Complex behaviours are build up through a series of small steps that slowly move the animal towards the intended goal.”

BAMZ had planned to release Osbourne this summer, but plans were moved forward when aggression between the pair increased two weeks ago and the shark's health began to deteriorate.

“The decision to relocate the shark was not made lightly as sharks need to constantly have water flowing over their gills and can go into shock from stress relatively easily,” Dr Walker said.

On Friday morning, Osbourne was carefully lifted from the tank and carried in a specially made sling into a fast boat, with the assistance of Dr Neil Burnie and Choy Aming from the Bermuda Shark Project.

On the boat, Osbourne was placed into a shark transport box, where he had water pumped over his gills as he was held upside down in a relaxed state known as tonic immobility.

He was released over the side of the boat at North Rock, around seven miles off the Island's north shore while aquarist Steve Davis and Dr Burnie watched it swim away.

While Osbourne is no longer on display, Dr Walker said eyes will remain on him.

“Osbourne was released with a satellite telemetry tag, donated by the Atlantic Conservation Partnership, which will provide us with very useful information on his swimming patterns and to some extent his well-being,” Dr Walker said.

“We wish him well.”

While Osbourne is around 6.5ft long, Galapagos sharks can reach 12ft, and are believed to live around 24 years, only reaching maturity at six to nine years old.

The species can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, but is considered near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as the species is caught by commercial fisheries.

For more pictures of Osbourne's return to the ocean, click here.