Ocean Rider Seahorse Farms
Ocean Rider Seahorse Farms is a breeding facility on Hawaii's Big Island where visitors can watch seahorses and related sea creatures in tanks up close. The farm displays more than half of the world's 36 seahorse species, along with rare leafy and weedy sea dragons and over 20 additional endangered marine animals.
The farm opened in 1998 and became a major breeding center for seahorses in controlled environments. This work began from a growing understanding that these delicate creatures would decline in the wild without human protection and care.
The farm grew from a commitment to protect endangered sea creatures and teach visitors about ocean conservation. The work here shows how people can help preserve nature by raising these animals carefully and sharing their stories.
The farm is open Monday through Friday with three tour sessions daily, each lasting about 90 minutes, and advance booking is recommended. Visitors should know that children must be at least five years old to hold a seahorse, though younger children can participate in other activities like feeding fish and exploring tide pools.
Male seahorses carry eggs in a pouch similar to a kangaroo's, a biological feature shared by few animal species. Visitors can observe pregnant males and babies during the tour, a sight rarely seen in nature.
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