Japan's largest (13,500,000 litres (3,566,000 US gal)) dolphin show tank[4]A dolphin show tank seen from the in water. The acrylic glass is 4 metres (13 ft) high and 29 metres (95 ft) wide.[4]
Opened in 1992, the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is a public aquarium operated by Nagoya Minato Promotion Foundation.[3]
When the aquarium first opened, the exhibition theme was "Journey from Japan to Antarctica", and the exhibits were themed around five bodies of water in the order of "Japanese Sea", "Japanese Deep Sea", "Equatorial Sea", "Australia", and "Antarctica", following the route once taken by theAntarctic ship Fuji, which is permanently anchored in the Port of Nagoya. Since the opening of the museum, more emphasis has been placed on the protection ofturtles, and a "Turtle Breeding Research Center" has been established.[7] 99% of the seawater used in the aquarium is pumped from the sea at the Port of Nagoya.[1]
In 2001, the aquarium built a new facility, including a 60 m (200 ft) wide, 30 m (98 ft) long, 13,500,000 litres (3,566,000 US gal) show pool, with a water depth of 12 m (39 ft). When it opened, it was the largest dolphin show tank in the world.[1]
On the second floor of the North Wing is a museum dedicated to the evolution of whales called "Evolutionary Sea".[4]
The exhibition theme of the North Wing is "3.5 Billion Year Journey: Animals Return to the Sea Again".[3] For this reason, the second floor of the North Building houses a museum "Evolutionary Sea" on the evolution of whales, with the largest number of fossil replicas and skeletal specimens of whales in Japan.[4] Fossils ofPakicetus and other whales that existed on land are on display, as well as the skeletons of killer whales and beluga whales that were bred at the Nagoya Port Aquarium in the past.[4]
In 2015, ashark ray that accidentally ate apuffer fish survived and attracted a lot of attention.[8] The aquarium offers tooth brushing for skinship withGrouper.[4]
The total number of visitors to the aquarium was approximately 55 million as of 2021, and the annual number of visitors has remained stable at over 2 million.[4]
Since 2020, an environmental education room with a display ofmicroplastics collected at the Port of Nagoya has been open to the public on the third floor of the South Building.[4]
Since its opening, the Port of Nagoya Aquarium has received multiple breeding and Koga awards from JAZA. The Port of Nagoya Aquarium has been active in breeding Antarctic species, having received awards for total 18 different animals.[10]
Sea turtles
In 1995, the artificial hatching ofloggerhead turtles was successful, and was the first in Japan to be laid at an indoor artificial spawning ground.[4]
Since 2003, in collaboration with theUS National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), young loggerhead turtles have been tagged and released, to research migratory routes in the North Pacific using an artificial satellite tracking system.[11] In addition, loggerhead turtles have been successfully bred for two generations. this won the Koga award from the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA).[12]
On July 17, 2004, the beluga whale named Mama gave birth. This was the first beluga whale born in captivity in Japan.[16] Further births, by various whales, happened in 2007, 2010, and 2012.[16][4]
Finless porpoise
Although the Port of Nagoya Aquarium does not breedfinless porpoise, many wild finless porpoises visit the Port of Nagoya every winter and spring. The aquarium is collaborating with several universities, includingKyoto University andTokai University, to study the behavior patterns of the finless porpoise and how the Port of Nagoya is used by them.[17][18]
Orca reproductive physiology research and environmental enrichment
On November 13, 2012, the orca named Stella gave birth to a female, the first orca born at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.[19][4]
A killer whale training. The curriculum is designed to prevent physical inactivity and takes place 4 times a day.[4]
Killer whale captivity began in October 2003 with Kū,[20] followed by Nami,[21] Stella, Bingo and Ran, and on November 13, 2012, Stella's calves were born.
Since December 2015, three orcas,Stella,Lynn andEarth are being kept at the aquarium. All killer whales kept in Japan have been made up of relatives since the death of Nami in January 2011, and only Stella and her grandchildren since the death of Bingo in August 2014.Bingo is the largest killer whale in Japan that has ever been kept in captivity with a total length of over 6.5 m (21 ft). Earth is 5.7 m (19 ft) long and weighs 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) as of 2021,[4] making him the largest living killer whale in Japan in captivity.[22] The aquarium weighs the fish four times a month and adjusts the amount of food they receive.[4]
The aquarium is collaborating with the Primate Research Institute ofKyoto University to conduct comparative cognitive science research on killer whales.[4]
Kū
Since 2003, the aquarium kept a killer whale named Kū (クー) on loan from another aquarium; she lived at the aquarium until her death on(2008-09-19)September 19, 2008.[23][24]
Nami
In 2010, the aquarium acquired a killer whale named Nami (ナミちゃん,nami-chan), who was to live at the aquarium permanently and feature in its Orca Show. Nami died shortly after her arrival and public debut at this aquarium, dying on(2011-01-14)January 14, 2011.[25]
The two adult killer whales arrived on December 16, 2011, by ship. Their daughter, Ran 2, arrived by truck the day before, on December 15, 2011. On November 13, 2012, Stella gave birth to a female calf,Lynn.[27]
Bingo died on August 2, 2014, after suffering an illness.[28] Stella is still alive and currently lives atKobe Suma Sea World while her daughter Lynn and her grandsonEarth lives in Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.[4]
Killer whale family "Earth", "Lynn", and "Stella" living in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Father Bingo – Captured in Iceland in 1984 – Died at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium on August 2, 2014 (estimated 32 years old)
Mother Stella – Captured in Iceland in 1987 and formerly Rearing in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium[4] Now living inKobe Suma Sea World from 29 March 2024
Eldest daughter Rabbie – January 11, 1998 – Born at Kamogawa Sea World
Lovey's husband Oscar – Captured in Iceland in 1987 – Died at Kamogawa Sea World on December 20, 2012 (estimated 27 years old)
Lovey's eldest son Earth – October 13, 2008 – Born at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium[4]
Lovey's eldest daughter Luna – July 19, 2012 – Born at Kamogawa Sea World
Second daughter Lara – February 8, 2001– Born at Kamogawa Sea World
Sarah, the third daughter – May 31, 2003 - Died at Kamogawa Sea World on April 26, 2006 (2 years and 10 months)
Ran 2, fourth daughter – February 25, 2006 - Born at Kamogawa Sea World
Lynn, fifth daughter – November 13, 2012 – Born at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium[4]
^シャチの「クー」 死亡のお知らせ (in Japanese). Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. September 19, 2008. Archived fromthe original on September 8, 2012. RetrievedAugust 4, 2022.
^シャチの｢ナミ｣死亡のお知らせ (in Japanese). Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. January 15, 2011. Archived fromthe original on September 6, 2012. RetrievedAugust 4, 2022.
^平成22年名古屋港水族館10大ニュース (in Japanese). Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. December 25, 2010. Archived fromthe original on February 19, 2013. RetrievedAugust 4, 2022.
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