Recent News

The Mystery of the Longtail Chicks
Friday, July 01, 2016

Every year the staff at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo [BAMZ] rehabilitate and release a number of White-tailed Tropicbirds, which are almost always known in Bermuda as the 'Longtail' because of its distinctive tail feathers. Adult Longtails do not handle captivity very well, so the birds are typically cared for and released within a few days.


“Kids On The Reef” Educational Programme
Tuesday, June 21, 2016

The Bermuda Zoological Society, and lead sponsor XL Catlin, recently welcomed back Beth Neale of the I Am Water foundation for their fourth annual Kids on the Reef educational programme.


BZS Environmental Youth Conference 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016

“Managing the Environmental Impact of AC-35” – that was the theme of the eighth biennial Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) Environmental Youth Conference, which was held at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March.


BAMZ Holds Grand Re-Opening Of Hall & Shop
Friday, June 10, 2016

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo held an official opening for their renovated Aquarium Hall and new retail shop “Scales and Tales.”


Aquarium Hall and gift shop reopens
Friday, June 10, 2016

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo has reopened its Aquarium Hall and gift shop after months of work.



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

Ministry On Sightings Of Hammerhead Shark
Bernews
Wednesday, June 06, 2018


Following the most recent shark sighting at Shelly Bay, the Ministry said it is likely the same one as seen over the past few months and said that while there is no need for alarm, “under no circumstances should anyone attempt to approach or handle the shark in any way.”

The Ministry said, “On Sunday 4th June, 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs was alerted to a shark sighting at Shelly Bay through social media and direct phone calls. An Officer attended the scene within 30 minutes of being alerted but the shark had already departed the area.

“The films circulating on social media indicate that the shark is a hammerhead [Sphyrna sp.] although an exact identification of species is not possible. The animal appears to be the same size as previous sightings over the past few months, and is likely the same animal.

“While sightings of sharks are rare in inshore Bermuda waters, especially along our beaches, it is not unheard of and there are a number of accounts in the records.

“The Ministry would like to state that there is no need for alarm in these types of events. Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that swimmers exit the water in a calm manner and wait for the animal to leave the area before entering again. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to approach or handle the shark in any way.

Video circulating:

 

“Hammerheads are typically not aggressive to humans unless provoked and account for zero fatalities annually. There are only a few instances of unprovoked attacks in all the records worldwide and these have all been attributed to much larger animals than the one sighted.

“It is not known why this animal is moving around Bermuda’s inshore water but it is likely due to the abundance of prey items notably fish, rays, crustaceans and cephalopods such as squid and octopus.

“There are nine species of hammerhead sharks globally with several species classified as endangered on the World Conservation Union’s [IUCN] 2008 Red List of Threatened Species, meaning that they are facing a very high risk of extinction due to human impacts and activities.

“The public can contact the Bermuda Aquarium & Museum and Zoo at 293-2727 or https://environment.bm/contact to a report a shark sighting inshore.”

Last month, local expert Choy Aming had made a similar point, saying he is “almost positive that the same hammerhead is being spotted repeatedly.”