12.5 million dollars, 260,00 gallons of water, 3,000  pieces of fabricated coral, 65 different species, and 13,500 square feet describes the new Blacktip Reef exhibit at The National Aquarium in Baltimore.

    Blacktip Reef will replace the old Wings in the Water exhibit that was filled mostly with stingrays.

    Blacktip Reef is designed to replicate an indo-pacific reef. Animals that will be in this exhibit include blacktip reef sharks and rays, many species of fish, zebra sharks, and a green sea turtle.

    Calypso is the green sea turtle that is in the blacktip reef exhibit. She was the first animal to be introduced into the exhibit because she is the largest at over 500 pounds. Calypso was a rescued off of the coast of New York and she had an infected flipper so they had to amputate. With only 3 flippers in was unsure of whether she would be able to survive in the wild, so instead of releasing her back into the ocean the National Aquarium took her in and she has lived in captivity ever since.

    All of the coral in Blacktip Reef is fabricated because it is unethical to take that large of an amount of coral out of the natural reefs in the ocean and destroy the habitats of all the animals that live in those corals. Coral is also very sensitive and it would be incredibly difficult to maintain the specific temperature, light, pH, and water current conditions that the corals need to survive.

    “I have always wanted to go see a coral reef and the fact that they now have one at the aquarium is really convienient and neat, I will dophinitely check it out soon!” said senior Maddie Grebe.

    This exhibit can be viewed from a variety of different locations throughout the aquarium including the straight-on view on the 1st level, a view of the exhibit from above on both the 2nd and 3rd floor, and even an underwater viewing area with a pop-out floor to ceiling window where visitors can feel as if they are literally walking into the exhibit.

    The exhibit was originally scheduled to be open on July 10, but the delicate process of getting each animal acclimated to the new environment is taking longer than expected. Calypso and over 200 small fish are already in the exhibit and new animals will continue to be put into Blacktip Reef throughout the summer.