What animals will be held captive at NIRAH?
Three aquaria and ‘a host of smaller aquaria and vivaria’ will contain aquatic animals, including a shoal of giant Mekong catfish, the world’s largest freshwater fish. According to reports, one dome alone would have ‘more than 50 species of freshwater sharks and rays … as well enclosures for Komodo dragons and giant tortoises.’ (1) But they will also make sure they provide sufficient space for ‘gift shops and restaurants catering for public visitors’ (1). The aquarium will house aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, mostly fish, reptiles and amphibians. But NIRAH have not ruled out keeping mammals, even cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) or pinnipeds (seals and sealions) (2).
