The Monterey Bay Aquarium does not have a whale shark
The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California does not currently house a whale shark, and there are no plans to add one. The aquarium focuses on marine life native to the cold waters of the Monterey Bay and the Pacific coast, and whale sharks are tropical animals that require very different conditions. A few other major aquariums in the United States do keep whale sharks, but they are rare exhibits because of the size and specialized care these animals need.
If you are visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and hoping to see a whale shark, you will not find one there. However, the aquarium does have many other large and impressive animals, including sea otters, jellyfish, sardines, and various species of sharks and rays that are native to the region.
Key Takeaways
- Monterey Bay Aquarium does not have whale sharks because they are tropical animals and the facility specializes in cold-water Pacific species.
- Whale sharks require enormous tanks and specialized care that most aquariums cannot provide.
- Only a handful of aquariums in the United States keep whale sharks, including the Georgia Aquarium and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (in Japan).
- Monterey Bay Aquarium features other large sharks and rays native to the California coast instead.
Why Monterey Bay Aquarium focuses on cold-water species
The Monterey Bay Aquarium was built to showcase the marine ecosystems of the Monterey Bay itself and the surrounding Pacific coast. The water here is cold—typically between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit—and the animals that live in it are adapted to those conditions. Whale sharks, by contrast, live in warm tropical and subtropical waters and need temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to survive.
Maintaining separate warm-water systems for a single species would be expensive and would take space and resources away from the aquarium's core mission of displaying local marine life. The aquarium's exhibits are designed around what visitors can actually see in Monterey Bay if they go diving or take a boat tour, which makes the collection meaningful to the community.
Which aquariums in the United States do have whale sharks
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the most well-known American aquarium with whale sharks. It has housed whale sharks since it opened in 2005 and maintains multiple animals in its massive Ocean Voyager exhibit. The tank holds 6.3 million gallons of water, which is necessary because whale sharks can grow to 40 feet long or more.
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan is another major facility with whale sharks and is considered one of the best places in the world to see them in captivity. A few other smaller facilities have kept whale sharks for brief periods, but most do not because the animals are difficult to breed in captivity and require constant care.
What sharks and rays you can see at Monterey Bay Aquarium instead
Monterey Bay Aquarium has several shark and ray species that are native to the Pacific coast and are just as interesting to observe. The aquarium displays leopard sharks, which are small and harmless, as well as various species of rays including bat rays and eagle rays. These animals are well-suited to the cold-water exhibits and are commonly found in Monterey Bay itself.
The aquarium also features a large kelp forest exhibit where you can see sharks and other predators hunting in their natural habitat. This exhibit is one of the most popular at the aquarium and gives visitors a sense of what the underwater ecosystem of the bay actually looks like.
The challenges of keeping whale sharks in captivity
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and can live for decades. They eat plankton and small fish, which means they need to be fed constantly with large quantities of food. In the wild, they migrate thousands of miles, so confining them to a tank—even a very large one—is stressful for the animals.
Whale sharks have never been successfully bred in captivity, so any whale shark in an aquarium was caught in the wild. This raises ethical concerns about removing these animals from their natural environment. Many conservation organizations argue that the resources spent on keeping whale sharks in captivity would be better used protecting them in the ocean.
Planning your visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium
If you are planning a visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium, you can see the full list of animals on display on the aquarium's website before you go. The website includes information about which exhibits are open, feeding times, and special programs. You can also call the aquarium directly if you have questions about specific animals or exhibits.
The aquarium is located in Monterey, California, and is open most days of the year. Admission prices and hours vary by season, so check the website for current information. The facility is designed to be explored at your own pace, and most visitors spend three to four hours there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Monterey Bay Aquarium ever had a whale shark?
No. The aquarium has never housed a whale shark. Its collection focuses exclusively on animals from the Monterey Bay region and the cold Pacific waters off the California coast.
Can I see whale sharks anywhere in California?
Not in an aquarium. Whale sharks do occasionally appear in the warm waters off Southern California and Mexico, but they are rare. Your best chance to see one in the United States is at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
What is the largest animal at Monterey Bay Aquarium?
The largest animals at the aquarium are the ocean sunfish (mola), which can weigh over 5,000 pounds, and various species of sharks and rays. The aquarium also has a large kelp forest exhibit with many large fish species.
Why don't more aquariums have whale sharks?
Whale sharks are extremely large, live for a long time, and have never been bred successfully in captivity. They also require enormous tanks and constant feeding, which makes them very expensive to maintain. Most aquariums cannot justify the cost and space required.