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History of the Aquarium |
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 1960
- 1962
Original building
at Miramar district where is the National Aquarium of Cuba was initially
established on January 23rd 1960.
In late 1960 were also
created other national institutions having as main original staff a
small group of specialists who worked previously in that first building
and would later assume functions in the field of marine research. Main
objective in those days was the creation of a new place devoted to what
would be, and in fact is nowadays, the NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF CUBA. This
new place opened its doors to the public on January 23rd 1960 showing
its visitors the simple fishbowls installed by that time.
The initially
installed 13 small-volume fishbowls allowed first visitors of the
Aquarium to see and be interrelated with alive fish and marine
invertebrates. From that moment onwards the number of fishbowls and
tanks increased steadily resulting in greater capacities and therefore
in a wider exhibit of tropical marine flora and fauna.
Decade of the 1970s
In 1973 the Aquarium
received the first marine mammal, a seal Artocephalus pusillus baptized
with the name of "Silvia". Silvia turned out soon to be the most popular
and attractive animal of the institution and also a pattern to be used
by the specialists for the management of marine mammals in the Aquarium.
Decade of the 1980s
In 1985 were set up
recreational didactic exhibits featuring Diana and Cyclone, two
"bottlenose" dolphins Tursiops truncatus.
Decade of the 1990s
The experience with the
interactive programs with dolphins, in this occasion an aquatic ballet
with these mammals, was selected as the best contribution of the year
(prize was granted by the International Marine Animal Trainers
Association IMATA'98).
After 2000
In February 2000 were
inaugurated the first exhibition buildings foreseen for the enhancement
of the Aquarium's exhibit area: the Dolphins Square and the Tropical
Island , among others. On January 14 th 2002 concluded the first phase,
being inaugurated the facilities by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz,
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.
• Dolphinarium: It has capacity for 1200 spectators and exhibition shows
with up to 8 trained dolphins performing simultaneously.
• Seal stage: Conceived for shows with seals. It has capacity for 1000
spectators.
• Exhibitions of Pinnipedia: Facilities conceived for exhibits of seals
in their natural habitat. They include exhibitions of common seals Phoca
vitulina vitulina by means of a transparent board of acrylic as well as
underwater exhibitions of dolphins performing amusing demonstrations
guided by their trainers. The facilities include a specialized
Restaurant for 120 family members, an operational area that provides
technical and technological support as well as a work room for
specialists involved in the research of marine mammals.
• Entertainment and commercial areas.
Source: official site of
AcuarioNational (2013)
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