Recent News
Micro Forests set to get biggerSaturday, August 27, 2022
More microforests are set to appear around the island as a Bermuda Zoological Society project to plant more trees and shrubs continues to grow.
The BZS Awards Four Students Environmental Science Scholarships
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Four Bermudian students have been awarded a combined $15,000 in educational funds as part of the Bermuda Zoological Society’s (BZS) annual BZS Steinhoff programme. Osei Agyapong, Imogen Peckett, Logan Soares and Naphisa Smith were selected for their academic achievements and their commitment to protecting the environment.
From Block Island to Montauk Through Sharks, Currents and Cramps
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Lori King of Long Island finished a nearly 24-mile trip in 8 hours 39 minutes 45 seconds. Once her swim is certified, King will be recognized as the first person to complete the journey.
Hamilton Lions pump up the cash for local charities
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
Two charities reaped $11,000 each thanks to an enduring fundraiser by Hamilton Lions Club.
The proceeds from the club’s 53rd annual Gas-O-Rama and raffle draw were presented to Vision Bermuda and the Bermuda Zoological Society.
Aspen Plants First Red Mangroves on Trunk Island
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
On Friday 3rd June, employees from Aspen were excited to plant the first young red mangrove trees in their sponsored Coastal Red Mangrove Forest on Trunk Island – the Bermuda Zoological Society’s (BZS) ‘Living Classroom’.
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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
3/19/2012 3:57:00 PM
Department of Conservation Services Press Release
MONDAY, MARCH 19: The Department of Conservation Service today announced that it has released its seven-year-old male Galapagos shark back into the wild for health reasons.
The Galapagos Shark is a species of Requiem Shark, which live in reefs like Bermuda’s, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling fish and squid.
Due to their slow reproductive rate and heavy fishing pressure their global population is in decline and as such it is recognized as a threatened species.
For the last six years the 6.5-foot-long Galapagos Shark named “Osbourne” has been a star attraction in the Northrock Tank at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ), along with a Black Grouper.
About a year ago Osbourne started developing a rubbed rostrum (nose) in the tank due to competition from the grouper.
Aquarium staff tried to reduce the aggression between the two through various training methods but were unsuccessful and as such plans were made to return the shark to the wild this summer.
However, two weeks ago the hostility between the grouper and shark escalated and the shark’s condition deteriorated.
As a result Principal Curator Dr Ian Walker made the decision to move up the release of the shark for his well being.
Dr Walker said: “The decision to relocate the shark was not made lightly as sharks need to constantly have water flowing over their gills and can go into shock from stress relatively easily.”
With assistance from Dr Neil Burnie and Choy Aming from the Bermuda Shark Project, Aquarium staff and volunteers moved the shark onto a fast boat using a specially made sling and placed it in a shark transport box.
Once on the boat the shark was monitored carefully and had water pumped over it gills while it rested upside down in a relaxed state known as tonic immobility.
After arriving seven miles off north shore at Northrock, the shark was released over the side of the boat and aquarist Steve Davis and Dr Burnie monitored its progress from the water as it swam away.
Dr Walker said: “The whole process went very smoothly. Osbourne was released with a satellite telemetry tag, donated by the Atlantic Conservation Partnership, which will provide us with very useful information on his swimming patterns and to some extent his wellbeing.
“We wish him well.”