Posted: 20 May 2021
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is pleased to welcome Poema del Mar Aquarium as a new Institutional member to the global zoo and aquarium community.
Opened in January 2018, in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in Spain, Poema del Mar Aquarium is the latest addition to the Loro Parque Foundation’s collection of attractions, which includes Loro Parque and Siam Park, all run by the Kiessling family.
The aquarium’s name pays tribute to local artist Néstor de la Torre for his paintings entitled Poema del Mar.
Poema del Mar is committed to protecting and preserving marine wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education and engaging experiences. The aquarium aims to foster a new relationship with the oceans and wildlife.
Poema del Mar Husbandry Director, Patricia Campos, said: “On behalf of Poema del Mar Aquarium, it is such an honour to be part of WAZA, a global alliance where we all share the same goal, animal conservation!”
In an area of 12,500m2, there are 35 marine and river ecosystems with 450 species. The aquarium contains the largest curved glass window in an aquarium globally, 36m wide and 7m high, weighing an impressive 120 tons. Through three different zones, visitors can get as close as possible to the natural biotope of the species they encounter.
Conservation and sustainability are at the core of the aquarium. The Poema del Mar Aquarium supports the Loro Parque Foundation, which carries out several conservation projects focused on endangered species. In its sustainability endeavours, the aquarium has implemented various measures to save energy, reduce contamination, optimise the sustainable use of resources, and produce renewable energy in the aquarium. Additionally, through the CanBIO project, the Foundation has established a state-of-the-art marine monitoring network to evaluate climate change, ocean acidification and underwater noise in the Canary Islands.
Poema del Mar Aquarium is also a member of the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA). To learn more about Poema del Mar Aquarium, please visit their website here.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.