Pet a Shark

If sharks ran the world a “shark petting and aquarium feeding” might consist of a shark ordering a large human happy meal, eating it, and then going home to his significant shark lover and getting a back scratch and a foot rub. Thankfully, that scenario will never happen, but you...

By Devin Desjarlais

December 9, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

If sharks ran the world a “shark petting and aquarium feeding” might consist of a shark ordering a large human happy meal, eating it, and then going home to his significant shark lover and getting a back scratch and a foot rub. Thankfully, that scenario will never happen, but you can actually go pet a shark and see an aquarium feeding at the South Florida Science Museum in West Palm Beach. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1 p.m. the museum’s aquarist, Rebecca Shearer, feeds their dozens of saltwater and freshwater tanks that house sharks, alligators, and other marine life from all over the world. If watching an alligator feed on some raw meat or seeing a shark gulp down some calamari isn’t quite your thing then the science museum has another surprise. Animal lovers or fans of slippery, awkward-feeling ocean animals can pet a nurse shark. The whole shebang only costs the price of admission: $11.95 for adults, $10.50 for seniors 62+, $8.95 for kids 3 to 12, and, for everyone else, it's free! Find the South Florida Science Museum at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. Call 561-832-1988, or visit sfsm.org.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 1 p.m., 2010

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.