The whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium are still there, but the program that brought them has changed
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta has housed whale sharks since 2006, when it opened with four of them—the largest fish ever kept in captivity. As of 2024, the aquarium still maintains whale sharks in its Ocean Voyager exhibit, the largest aquarium tank in the world by volume. What changed is not the presence of the animals, but the breeding program and the international agreements that govern them.
The confusion often stems from news coverage of the whale shark program's evolution. For years, Georgia Aquarium was the only place in the Western Hemisphere where whale sharks lived in human care. That distinction, combined with occasional reports about individual sharks and breeding efforts, has led to questions about whether the program ended or the animals were removed. Neither happened—the aquarium continues to care for its whale sharks, though the circumstances around them have shifted.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia Aquarium still houses whale sharks in its Ocean Voyager exhibit, which remains the world's largest aquarium tank.
- The aquarium stopped its whale shark breeding program because international regulations made it difficult to acquire new animals legally.
- Whale sharks are protected under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which restricts their capture and trade.
- The aquarium's whale sharks are fed a specialized diet of plankton substitute and live in conditions designed to replicate their natural ocean environment.
- Visitors can still see the whale sharks during regular aquarium hours, and the animals remain central to the Ocean Voyager exhibit.
Why the breeding program ended
Georgia Aquarium's whale shark breeding program never produced offspring in captivity, despite years of effort. The aquarium housed multiple sharks of both sexes, but the animals did not breed. This is not unusual—whale sharks are difficult to breed in captivity anywhere in the world, and their reproductive biology is still not fully understood by marine scientists.
The real barrier to expanding the program was legal, not biological. Whale sharks are listed on CITES Appendix II, which means international trade in the animals is restricted and requires permits. Most of the whale sharks currently in aquariums worldwide were captured decades ago, before regulations tightened. Acquiring new whale sharks legally became nearly impossible, so Georgia Aquarium could not replace animals if they died or add new ones to the collection.
By the early 2020s, the aquarium had shifted its focus from breeding to research and education with the animals it already held. This is a common transition for facilities that house long-lived, difficult-to-breed species.
How many whale sharks does Georgia Aquarium have now
Georgia Aquarium currently maintains four whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. The exact ages and identities of the animals have changed over time as some have died of natural causes and others have remained. The aquarium does not always publicize individual shark deaths when ready, which is why some visitors assume the entire program has ended when they hear that a particular shark is no longer there.
The four sharks live together in the 6.3-million-gallon Ocean Voyager tank, which also houses manta rays, sea turtles, groupers, and hundreds of other fish species. The tank is designed to simulate the open ocean, with water temperature, salinity, and currents managed to match the sharks' natural habitat in tropical and subtropical waters.
What the whale sharks eat and how they are cared for
Whale sharks in the wild are filter feeders that consume plankton, fish eggs, and small fish by swimming through the water with their mouths open. Replicating this diet in captivity is one of the biggest challenges aquarium staff face. Georgia Aquarium feeds its whale sharks a specialized mixture that includes live zooplankton, fish larvae, and a prepared plankton substitute developed specifically for captive whale sharks.
The aquarium's veterinary and nutrition teams monitor the sharks' health continuously. This includes regular ultrasounds, blood work, and behavioral observation. Whale sharks can live 70 years or more in the wild, and the aquarium's goal is to provide care that allows them to live as long and as healthily as possible in captivity.
The sharks are also part of the aquarium's research program. Scientists study their behavior, feeding patterns, and response to their environment. This research contributes to the broader scientific understanding of whale shark biology, which helps inform conservation efforts in the wild.
Why whale sharks are protected internationally
Whale sharks were added to CITES protection in 2002 because their populations were declining due to fishing pressure. In some parts of the world, whale sharks are hunted for their meat, fins, and oil. The international agreement does not ban all trade, but it requires permits and documentation for any whale shark that crosses a border, whether alive or dead.
This protection is why Georgia Aquarium cannot straightforward import new whale sharks from other countries. Any animal would need export permits from its country of origin and import permits from the United States, and most countries with wild whale shark populations do not issue these permits for commercial aquarium trade.
What visitors see when they visit the Ocean Voyager exhibit
The Ocean Voyager exhibit is one of Georgia Aquarium's main attractions. Visitors can view the whale sharks through a massive acrylic panel that forms one wall of the tank. The exhibit also includes an underwater tunnel where visitors walk beneath the sharks and other large fish, creating the sensation of being in the ocean with them.
The aquarium provides educational signage about whale shark biology, their role in ocean ecosystems, and conservation efforts. Staff members are often present to answer questions and provide information about what visitors are seeing. The exhibit operates during regular aquarium hours, and whale shark viewing is included with general admission.
The difference between Georgia Aquarium's program and other facilities
Georgia Aquarium remains the only facility in North America with whale sharks. Several aquariums in Asia and the Middle East also house whale sharks, including facilities in China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. Most of these animals were acquired before CITES restrictions became strict, and they are now part of long-term care programs rather than breeding initiatives.
The aquarium's role has shifted from being a place where whale sharks might breed to being a center for research, education, and animal welfare. This reflects a broader change in how zoos and aquariums approach their mission—moving away from expansion and toward deepening knowledge about the animals they already care for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium still alive?
Yes. Georgia Aquarium currently maintains four whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Individual sharks have died over the years from natural causes, which is why some visitors may have heard that "the" whale sharks are gone—but the program itself continues.
Can I see the whale sharks if I visit Georgia Aquarium?
Yes. The whale sharks are on display in the Ocean Voyager exhibit during all regular aquarium hours. You can view them through the main acrylic panel and also from the underwater tunnel. Whale shark viewing is included with general admission to the aquarium.
Why doesn't Georgia Aquarium breed whale sharks anymore?
The aquarium's breeding program never produced offspring, and international law now makes it nearly impossible to acquire new whale sharks legally. CITES protection restricts trade in the animals, so the aquarium shifted its focus to research and education with the sharks it already holds.
What do whale sharks eat in the aquarium?
Georgia Aquarium feeds its whale sharks a specialized diet of live zooplankton, fish larvae, and a prepared plankton substitute. This mimics their natural diet of small organisms they filter from the water while swimming.
How long do whale sharks live?
Whale sharks can live 70 years or more in the wild. Their exact lifespan in captivity is not well documented because so few have been kept in human care, but the aquarium's goal is to provide conditions that allow them to live as long as possible.