World’s largest oceanarium to open in Singapore

The world’s largest oceanarium will open in Singapore in December this year.It is expected to house more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species, including the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that sparked a controversy last year.

The world’s largest oceanarium will open in Singapore in December this year, reported the Straits Times daily Monday.

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The $7-billion Marine Life Park (MLP) is the last of the attractions to open at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). RWS, located on Singapore’s Sentosa island, opened its doors in January 2010 and is home to various lifestyle amenities, including a Universal Studios theme park and a casino.

The opening ceremony, to be held on December 7, will be marked by a fireworks display and a series of performances by international performers, including soprano singer Sarah Brightman.

MLP is expected to house more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species, including the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that sparked a controversy last year. Animal rights activists have since been lobbying for the resort management to release the 25 wild dolphins captured to be part of the resort’s attractions.

One of MLP’s most hotly anticipated attractions is the Adventure Cove Waterpark, which will feature Southeast Asia’s first hydromagnetic water coaster ride and a rainbow reef where guests can snorkel among fishes. Another is the SEA Aquarium, where visitors can stay dry and watch through the world’s largest viewing panel over 100,000 aquatic creatures including manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

With the opening of the MLP, RWS hopes to boost its visitor numbers to 16 million in 2013, added the news daily. The RWS has attracted some 30 million visitors since its opening in 2010.