Reef shark pups born July 18, 2013 get a close-up look from a Discovery Cove shark expert.
It’s Shark Week, and I couldn’t be more excited! Megaladon. Voodoo sharks. It’s all great stuff! (Visit the Discovery Channel’s website to read more about their special programming.) To top off all this shark-tastic-ness (not to be confused with a Sharknado), SeaWorld announced a groundbreaking procedure was performed on a whitetip reef shark at Discovery Cove in Orlando, July 18, 2013.
• A team of shark experts and veterinarians prepare to perform a groundbreaking procedure — a Cesarean section — on a whitetip reef shark at Discovery Cove.
Due to complications with the pregnancy, an emergency Cesarean section was performed on the shark six months into her gestation.
Whitetip reef sharks have a gestation period
of 10–13 months and give birth to live young.
Four healthy pups were born, each weighing less than three pounds at birth (1.04 kg – 1.25 kg). Their lengths ranged from 59 cm to 62 cm (about two feet). Mother and pups are doing well, eating normally and showing no signs of unusual behaviors. Currently the new family lives behind the scenes at Discovery Cove as animal experts continue to monitor their progress, but other whitetip reef sharks can be seen by guests snorkeling in The Grand Reef or when participating in SeaVenture, an underwater walking tour where guests wear dive helmets to explore the undersea world all around them.
It seems as if you’re close enough to touch the sharks at Discovery Cove.
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort experience where guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel with rays and tropical fish, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches. To discover more, visit DiscoveryCove.com and follow them on Facebook.
Discovery Cove SeaVentures is an underwater walking tour. Here I’m “going down!”
SeaWorld Mommy 