UnderWater World, Queensland
Encyclopedia
UnderWater World at Mooloolaba
, Sunshine Coast
, Queensland
, Australia
is a marine mammal park
, oceanarium
and wildlife
sanctuary
. Underwater World is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA).
1996 film Police Story 4: First Strike
were shot in the park, including a scene in the main aquarium. In one of the scenes a tourist family is visible in the reflection on one of the tanks.
A moving walkway in a 80 metres (262.5 ft) shark tunnel
under the 2500000 litre oceanarium
takes visitors past several viewing windows, with fish swimming all around the walkway. The exhibit includes three separate habitats: coral reef, cave and open ocean. Its residents include rays, moray eels, grey nurse sharks, sandbar whalers, whitetip reef sharks, and zebra sharks.
Crawly Creatures
This exhibit is an interactive journey from land to deep sea. It features the world’s largest marine, land and migratory crab species. Species of crabs in the exhibit include giant Japanese spider crabs, robber crabs (also known as coconut crabs) and Christmas Island red and blue crabs.
Other exhibits
UnderWater World is also home to fresh water Crocodile
s. It also has a dead Giant squid
Preserved in a block of ice.
shows and wildlife information talks, and has hands-on marine displays. Shows at the park include:
s, dugong
s, dolphin
s and seals
.
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Mooloolaba is a suburb and tourist resort township on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is located north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is part of the Maroochydore urban centre.- Etymology :...
, Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is a marine mammal park
Marine mammal park
A marine mammal park is a commercial theme park or aquarium where marine mammals such as dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. A marine mammal park is more elaborate than a dolphinarium, because it also features other marine...
, oceanarium
Oceanarium
An oceanarium can be either a marine mammal park, such as Marineland of Florida, or a large-scale aquarium, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.- Marine mammal parks :...
and wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
sanctuary
Animal sanctuary
An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death...
. Underwater World is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA).
History
Several scenes in the Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
1996 film Police Story 4: First Strike
Police Story 4: First Strike
Police Story 4: First Strike , , is a 1996 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film made in the typical humorous style of Jackie Chan....
were shot in the park, including a scene in the main aquarium. In one of the scenes a tourist family is visible in the reflection on one of the tanks.
Exhibits
Sharks AliveA moving walkway in a 80 metres (262.5 ft) shark tunnel
Shark tunnel
A shark tunnel is an underwater tunnel that passes through an aquarium typically with sharks and related aquatic life.They are usually made of thick acrylic glass....
under the 2500000 litre oceanarium
Oceanarium
An oceanarium can be either a marine mammal park, such as Marineland of Florida, or a large-scale aquarium, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.- Marine mammal parks :...
takes visitors past several viewing windows, with fish swimming all around the walkway. The exhibit includes three separate habitats: coral reef, cave and open ocean. Its residents include rays, moray eels, grey nurse sharks, sandbar whalers, whitetip reef sharks, and zebra sharks.
Crawly Creatures
This exhibit is an interactive journey from land to deep sea. It features the world’s largest marine, land and migratory crab species. Species of crabs in the exhibit include giant Japanese spider crabs, robber crabs (also known as coconut crabs) and Christmas Island red and blue crabs.
Other exhibits
UnderWater World is also home to fresh water Crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s. It also has a dead Giant squid
Giant squid
The giant squid is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species...
Preserved in a block of ice.
Shows and talks
UnderWater World presents sealPinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
shows and wildlife information talks, and has hands-on marine displays. Shows at the park include:
- Seal Shows in the Seal Cove
- Otter Shows
- Stingray Reef talks
- Shark guided tours
Conservation
UnderWater World is a rehabilitation centre for turtleTurtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s, dugong
Dugong
The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
s, dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s and seals
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
.