Tooth Fairy Hired To Help With Mammoth Shark Teeth Clean-Up at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Tooth Fairy Hired To Help With Mammoth Shark Teeth Clean-Up at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

The Tooth Fairy made a special visit to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium to collect the forever growing number of teeth shed in the Shark Valley Oceanarium.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium held the massive clean-up to prepare for the brand new Shark Mission experience launching on Saturday 21 December – an immersive experience which is set to challenge common misconceptions about sharks and educate adults and kids about the plight of the world's most misunderstood ocean predators.

Considering the Shark Valley Oceanarium has almost 20 large sharks capable of shedding up to 1,000 teeth a year, it is no surprise that the Tooth Fairy had her work cut out. However, after a gigantic effort delving into the depths of the Oceanarium, surrounded by beautiful shark species, including huge three-metre Grey Nurse and Lemon Sharks and the adorable Port Jackson sharks, she was able to collect nearly 100 teeth on her first mission.

'Little do people know that a shark has as many as four neat conveyor belt rows of teeth and are capable of going through 30,000 teeth in a lifetime. So to show visitors just how remarkable these misunderstood creatures of the sea really are, we thought it was fitting to hire the Tooth Fairy to come in and clean-up the Shark Valley Oceanarium ahead Shark Mission," said Claudette Rechtorik, SEA LIFE Conservation Fund Manager.

'Contrary to popular belief, the shark fairy tooth business is on the decline as many shark species continue to decrease at alarming rates in Australia. As an advocate of the sea and its inhabitants, we feel very strongly about Shark Mission and hope it will strengthen visitors' knowledge of these incredible animals, the unique role they play in the marine eco-system as well as raise awareness of the importance of shark conservation," added Claudette.

A shark's curious dental health is just one of many weird and wonderful facts that kids can sink their teeth into as part of the Shark Mission experience this summer. The new interactive exhibit will provide visitors with 360 degree views of ten different shark species, the chance to marvel at these fascinating creatures in the brand new Shark Nursery and Shark Valley Tunnels as well as discover compelling facts about shark anatomy and habitats with giant interactive touch screens.

For a larger than life experience, there will also be the opportunity to climb inside the humongous jaws of a Megladon shark, the biggest prehistoric shark that ever lived, whose teeth are nearly ten times the size of a great White Shark. Kids can also delve into a new, fun interactive trail to learn all about sharks by touching jaws in an interactive game revealing a shark's diet, interacting with a 3D maze displaying how sharks use their senses, and so much more.

For more information on the soon-to-be launched Shark Mission, please visit: www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour (right next door to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussauds Sydney)
9am – 8pm daily. Last admission 7pm
Walk-up price – Adults: $38, Children (4-15yrs): $24