The Belize Whale Shark Expedition
(Children’s Library Title: “Our Whale Shark Adventure”)
What does it feel like to have a giant shark the size of a school bus about to run into you?
In this presentation we have your students join us as we search for the underwater feeding grounds of — WHALE SHARKS!
A look at shark biology and behavior and Whale Sharks in particular. Here we bring our close-up underwater encounters with Whale Sharks to life with this exciting, action-packed marine science adventure!
The program begins with an introduction to sharks in general and Whale Sharks in particular. Students are chosen from the audience to demonstrate how sharks are adapted to their environment. Specimens and models, and HUGE Whale Shark jaws are used to help demonstrate how Whale Sharks are different from all of the other sharks and bony fish (We find Dory!). Finally, (if time allows) student helpers assist in showing how big sharks are, from the smallest to the largest, a few in between.
After the demonstrations, undersea explorers, Wayne and Karen Brown, then take your students on their thrilling adventure in search of whale sharks in the Central American country of Belize, along the Belize Barrier Reef, via an exciting and fast-paced, high-definition digital video presentation.
In this HD video presentation your students join the Browns on the expedition boat where they meet the captain and crew. As they accompany Wayne and Karen on the expedition in search of whale sharks your students meet animals that are part of the marine ecosystem and learn how these animals relate to the whale sharks as part of the ocean food chain. The highlight of the presentation is being surrounded by 25-foot long, dive bombing Whale Sharks!
After the multi-image presentation, your students come literally face-to-face with a whale shark when they meet “Wanda”, the 25-foot long, inflatable, female, whale shark!
If time allows, at the end of the presentation a brief time is set aside to answer your students’ questions.
