SCOTLAND’S national aquarium has welcomed eight new sharks after the closure of a site in Wales.
Rhyl SeaQuarium in North Wales announced its permanent closure in November after ongoing coastal sea defence works began to impact the welfare of their animals.
It had been an attraction for more than 30 years however bosses said “noise, disruptions and vibrations” from the works left them with no choice but to rehome the animals.
Deep Sea World in North Queensferry swiftly offered to rehome eight lesser spotted catsharks from the facility.
They arrived to the site on January 10 and are currently settling in to the quarantine area.
A spokesperson for the zoo team at Deep Sea World said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of a fellow aquarium closing and we are very pleased to be able to help them rehome some of their creatures following this unfortunate conclusion”.
Catsharks are one of the most abundant species of sharks in UK waters and predate on molluscs, small crustaceans and marine worms.
Once they are acclimatised to their new facility the sharks will be introduced to the rockpools and main underwater tunnel of Deep Sea World.
They will join the aquarium’s already impressive collection of sharks, including banded catsharks, nursehounds and sand tiger sharks.
