Aquário Natal, Marine life museum in Extremoz, Brazil.
Aquário Natal is a private aquarium on Praia da Redinha Nova in Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte. It holds about 200 animals of 60 species, including sharks, moray eels, coral fish, seahorses, penguins, caimans and pirarucu. Its main attraction is a shark contact tank where visitors can get close to the animals and take photographs and film.
This facility was founded in 1999 and quickly became an important educational center for marine research in northeastern Brazil. From its opening, it focused on supporting local schools and raising awareness about ocean conservation.
The aquarium also supports Projeto Tamar, the Brazilian sea-turtle conservation programme, and keeps the only penguins in the Northeast Region. Its name, Aquário Natal, links it to the city of Natal, though the site lies in neighbouring Extremoz.
Aquário Natal stands on Praia da Redinha Nova in Extremoz, just north of Natal across the Potengi. Visitors can photograph and film the tanks, and the shark contact tank lets them get close to the animals. The site also serves as a treatment centre for animals and backs Projeto Tamar.
This facility houses sand tiger sharks, animals normally seen only in the open ocean in this region. Many visitors are surprised to observe these predators up close in a safe setting.
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