Aquaria KLCC celebrates World Ocean Day and says "Blue Ocean, Green Action"
June 8th, 2010 has offcially been designated as World Ocean Day for the first time by the United Nations. Although it was created in 1992 at the United Nations World Summit with emphasis on protecting the marine environment and carefully managing its resources, this year marks the first year a date has been designated. Aquaria KLCC supported by Department of Environment in conjunction with World Ocean Day during school holidays will transform the theme of the aquarium and organize children activities starting
from June 4th onwards. Our message is clear "Blue Ocean, Green Action".
Blue Ocean, Green Action on the news
Members of the public visiting our aquarium will be able to view what destructive human acts have done to the environment and in turn how this has affected the ocean. As nothing escapes the oceans because in fact it covers almost 71 percent of the earth, it produces over 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe and not forgetting the ocean is also home to over 100 million species of marine life.
The overall theme in Aquaria is the Journey of Water, which starts from the streams in the highlands, running through rainforests and ending up in the oceans. Be transformed into a journey worth visiting. This is where one will be able to envision the irresponsible human acts taking its toll on our natural environment. Our target audience has always been the next generation and school going children.
Discovering the home of land animals and marine life being destroyed by humans is a sad sight, at The Stream area this is exactly what visitors will witness. Natural habitats of the otters, water rats and a variety of other species are destroyed by humans with their irresponsible recreational activities.
The Tropical Rainforest, mainly found near the Equator is also known as the "Earth's Lung" and is responsible for 25 percent of earth's oxygen turn over. In Aquaria KLCC, Jewels of the Jungle depicts the rainforest, which houses an array of fauna including reptiles, insects and mammals. Rapid deforestation and urbanization places these animals on the extinction list. Experience deforestation at the Jewels of the Jungle when you come visit us this June.
The sea turtles and the colorful coral reefs which fill many diving spots around the world are also dying. At The Living Ocean area, we strive to show how pollution, over fishing, accidental oil spillage and excessive carbon dioxide causing global warming is taking away our oxygen and killing millions of marine life faster then they can reproduce.
Sea turtles die when they swallow plastic bags floating in the water mistaking them as food. Aquaria KLCC is home to the Green Turtle, Hawksbill and the Olive Ridley Turtle which are all in the endangered list. Adopt a Turtle Project which kick started in 2007, was a conservation project started to raise awareness on the depleting number of sea turtles. After these hatchlings were adopted by the public, they were head started by Aquaria until they were large enough to be set free into the sea. This is what "Turtles Can Fly" project revolved around. This year Aquaria will initiate "Turtles Are Free" whereby this venture is to tag the turtles with satellite tags focusing mainly on researching their migration, breeding and the deep ocean itself.
Yearly we are killing a staggering thirty-seven million sharks. Aquaria KLCC will initiate "Save Our Fins" conservation project at the end of this year, to better understand sharks in order for us to protect them. The main objective is to educate and take sharks off the dining tables and restaurant menus.
Our commitment for World Ocean Day is reduce, reuse and recycle concentrating mainly on plastic. Factories producing plastic are responsible for toxic waste which ends up polluting the oceans killing more marine life every year. To raise awareness, Atlantis our souvenir outlet will charge 30 cent for every plastic bag a customer takes and if the customer refuses a bag Aquaria will donate 30 cent to funds raised for "Save our Fins" conservation campaign planned for the year end.
