Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans Adding Sharks and Rays Touchpool
Since it's Shark Week, it only seems fitting that Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans announces news regarding sharks.
The aquarium announced on Tuesday (July 24) that it plans to build a new "Shark and Ray Touchpool Gallery."
If you've visited the aquarium before, you've probably experienced their current stingray touchpool, where you can "pet" those neat creatures. This new exhibit will be larger than the current touchpool and will have more species including a variety of small sharks and rays.
The new kidney-shaped touchpool will be located on the second floor of the aquarium, between the penguin and sea otter exhibits. It's expected to be 60 feet long by 16 feet wide. That's quite a bit larger than the current 5-by-10-foot pool.
Construction is set to begin in August, with the exhibit opening in the summer of 2019. The project is expected to cost $2.9 million.