Great hammerhead shark headlining in Vegas aquarium

By Chris Oliver
Advertiser Travel Writer

The Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is the new home to a six-foot great hammerhead shark. The female shark was flown from Florida to Las Vegas in a specially-built tank. Mandalay Bay Shark-viewing in Sin City When: Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. Last admission at 10 p.m. Cost: Adults $14.95; children 5-12, $9.95; 4 and younger free; group rates available for 20 or more. Phone: (877) 632-7800

According to the Mandalay, no other U.S. aquarium has successfully displayed a hammerhead shark in a closed-system aquarium.

Because great hammerheads are not found in aquariums, there is little information about their life expectancy, said Jack Jewell, Mandalay's Shark Reef curator. "We think maybe about 50 or 60 years. As to whether we'll have her that long, who knows. I hope so!"

Great hammerheads, the largest of the nine hammerhead species, can grow to 18 feet and weigh more than 500 pounds. The shark's unusual expanded head is slightly curved across the front, extending almost 90 degrees from its body. Marine scientists may argue the reason behind the shark's odd shape but generally agree that the hammerhead is one of the ocean's fiercest predators. (Sea Life Park on O'ahu has a small, scalloped hammerhead shark named Nakoa in its reef tank. Nakoa will be released into the ocean when it reaches four feet.)

Mandalay Bay's aquarium holds 1.3-million gallons of water and is the size of a football field. "Shark Reef is a world-class facility. So when we knew a transportation system had been perfected and it was possible to bring a great hammerhead here, I felt we had a mandate to bring this unique shark to Mandalay Bay," Jewell said.

The hammerhead was flown from Marathon, Fla., to Las Vegas in a specially-built tank which allowed free movement as hammerhead sharks must swim constantly).

Jewell said the challenge was ensuring the shark was robust enough to acclimatize to the aquarium and to other tank species.

"She was very much the new kid on the block," Jewell said. "But in addition, large pelagic sharks like the great white, tiger shark and great hammerheads initially have difficulty navigating a closed-tank system after the open ocean."

It's been a process of discovery and wonder for the curator and aquarium staff. "She is spectacular, first, because she is bizarre to look at, very unusual, and she has a beautiful dorsal fin, one of the tallest of any shark," Jewell said.

Jewell said the aquarium's goal is to bring such creatures to the attention of the public.

"I can think of no better ocean ambassador than the great hammerhead shark to capture the public's attention and remind us all that they are indeed imperiled and endangered," he said. "To see a great hammerhead shark is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to Las Vegas. I don't believe they will have such an opportunity again in their lifetime."