ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont is a landlocked state and so the very last thing you’d count on listed below are sharks. But that’s precisely what we discovered on the Champlain Valley Fair as a part of a brand new touring exhibit. Reporter Cat Viglienzoni checked out the shark tank.
Vermont is a landlocked state and so the very last thing you’d count on listed below are sharks. But that’s precisely what we discovered on the Champlain Valley Fair as a part of a brand new touring exhibit. Reporter Cat Viglienzoni checked out the shark tank.
The first step earlier than getting right into a shark tank is ensuring which you could breathe. Without gills, I wanted the assistance of a masks.
“Take a big breath,” suggested Felipe Velarde with Sealand Encounter, who helped coach me by my time within the tank.
After testing, it’s time to placed on weights and hop in.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: All proper, we’re about to get into the tank with the nurse sharks. They’re form of pulling up. They’re form of a little bit curious proper now, however I’ve been advised that the second I get into this tank they’re mainly going to go and retreat to a nook as a result of I’m new. I’m totally different and so they’re unsure what to make of me. So, right here we go.
The water is heat and as predicted, the nurse sharks keep away at first. But ultimately, they get curious.
“You can feel free to move around Cat,” Velarde stated.
I discovered every shark has its personal persona. Jimmy is curious. He’s the primary to strategy. Rosita is the spunkier one. She has no drawback coming as much as verify me out. Abby is a bit shyer.
“They’re just trying to check out who you are,” Velarde stated.
Nurse sharks stay in heat waters within the western Atlantic and japanese Pacific Oceans. They’re backside dwellers not usually identified for being aggressive in direction of people. However, they will chunk when provoked.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: Obviously, this can be a fairly particular situation and these are fairly particular sharks. They advocate although that if you’re within the wild and also you see a shark, you don’t strategy it and you don’t attempt to contact it
I used to be skilled earlier than stepping into on learn how to ensure that I didn’t unintentionally confuse the sharks, and so I used to be in a position to mingle — unharmed… and in awe.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: You’re going to must tear me out of right here as a result of I’m actually having enjoyable proper now
Experiences like this aren’t one thing supplied to the general public on the honest. But they hope seeing the sharks up shut and seeing how docile they’re will give individuals a brand new notion of them.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: And how do you ensure that when you’re on the highway with these guys that they’re nicely cared for? Because I feel some individuals may see this tank and go, nicely that’s not an enormous tank, you understand?
Felipe Velarde: Probably the toughest half about that is getting down the highway and it’s the rationale we work completely with nurse sharks, as a result of they adapt very nicely to this sort of atmosphere. Even within the wild, they stay in locations with nearly this a lot water, generally as a result of they’ll get caught in a tide pool.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: I may spend all day in right here with the sharks however sadly I’ve work to do and now we have to place this collectively for tonight’s information, so I’m going to move out of right here. But actually girls and gents, it’s been an ideal. Thank you for being such good hosts. I’ll see you on the present later.
The public can see these sharks up shut anytime, however if you wish to be taught extra about them, the exhibits are at 12:30, 2:30, and seven:00 on daily basis by the Yellow Gate.
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