Aquarium Update

The excitement is growing as we dive deeper into the aquarium’s newest additions! Slated to open in the fall of this year, the 650,000-gallon aquarium will include such amazing sea life as sea otters, the giant Pacific octopus, sea turtles, and sharks. JE Dunn Construction Company and our other contractors are making incredible strides, and we are currently preparing the way to welcome our first aquatic animal residents in the coming months!

Stuart Clausen, aquatics curator, said significant progress has been made since our last Expeditions. The final plumbing connections are now starting to be made between exhibits, preparing them for final fill tests and saltwater. The largest exhibit, which will be home to various species of shark, started its functional testing, where pumps are energized enabling water to move through the pipes and filters.

Now saltwater will be added to the mix! This stage is essential as we prepare for the first international shipment of animals. The initial shipment is expected to arrive in February, and the first large shipment of fish from Australia is expected in March. The Zoo staff is finalizing plans for our shark transports and anticipate these fascinating oceanic predators to arrive in April!

We will continue to provide more updates on our social media channels as we approach each milestone. Learn more about the aquarium and how you can help us make waves by visiting www.kansascityzoo.org/aquarium