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Feature: Robotic whale shark at marine park triggers discussion

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E-mail Xinhua, December 17, 2024

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by Xinhua writers Yuan Quan and Wang Feng

SHENZHEN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A large robotic whale shark at a newly opened marine park in south China has made waves in the media, sparking discussions on whether using artificial fish in such parks is a proper practice.

Measuring 5 meters long and weighing over 500 kg, the colossal robot swims in a huge tank at Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. With its mechanical fins, it can swim, turn, float and dive, mimicking the natural movements of a real shark.

From a distance, it looks like any other real fish swimming around, but up close, the seams where its parts join can be spotted. Not many people are aware that this underwater robot is composed of 13,000 components, equipped with 156 sensors and 14 electric motors.

The mechanical shark made its debut in October, when the oceanarium opened. It soon gained attention online after visitors discovered that it was not a real fish. Some were amazed at the tech marvel, but some felt dissatisfied, arguing that viewing a fake shark would diminish the rarity and genuine appeal of the marine life.

"I visited the aquarium to see real, living ocean creatures. If I were interested in robotic fish, I could simply head over to museums of science and technology," one netizen commented on Dianping, a popular review platform in China akin to Yelp.

Many visitors also complained online that they were not adequately informed in advance that the shark exhibit is a lifelike simulation, although the oceanarium said it previously shared the news on its WeChat account.

However, China's science community applauded the bionic substitution, noting that the robotic shark spares live sharks from captivity and serves as an educational tool that can help raise awareness about marine conservation.

Yu Ziniu, a researcher at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, strongly supports the deployment of mechanical fish. He told Xinhua that China places great importance on marine life protection, implementing strict regulations on the capture of live sharks. He said the lifelike robot can not only offer visitors an engaging experience but also avoid capturing and transporting live specimens, contributing to the conservation of rare marine species.

One of the world's largest fish species, a real whale shark can grow up to 20 meters long. Despite their size, whale sharks are gentle creatures and can live between 70 and 100 years. Due to human activities and changes in the ecological environment, the wild whale shark population has been declining. Not all aquariums in China have the capability to house the sharks, and breeding them remains a challenge, Yu added.

"Large marine animals raised in captivity have an average lifespan of five years," Li Jianping, director of the Academy of Future Ocean of Ocean University of China said, adding that aquariums have difficulty providing a living environment that closely resembles their natural habitats.

The aquarium in Shenzhen told Xinhua that it had taken marine conservation into account when deciding to use a mechanical whale shark instead of a live one. It also expected the large robotic fish to become a new popular attraction alongside other star species at the aquarium.

Whale sharks are currently included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species, and they are listed as a national second-class protected wild animal in China.

Bionic whale sharks have been spotted in many ocean parks in recent years. In 2022, a robotic shark displayed at an aquarium in Shanghai garnered extensive media coverage. Last year, an ocean resort in the city of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, unveiled AI-guided marine animals, including a robotic whale shark.

Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy, believes that incorporating digital bionic technology and other cutting-edge technological advancements into theme parks represents an inevitable trend.

When comparing the robotic fish display to traditional exhibits of live specimens, Dai said that their relationship should be "complementary and distinctive."

However, Lin Huanjie, the head of the Institute For Theme Park Studies In China, noted that aquariums should explicitly inform visitors in advance about the presence of robotic fish, rather than leaving it to visitors to discover on their own.

The emergence of robotic fish is also due to growing concerns about animal welfare. Many zoos in China have canceled commercial performance of animals and improved their treatment.

"In the future, there will be a significant decline in animal performances, possibly leading to complete elimination," Lin said. "This means that zoos and aquariums will need to diversify their offerings. Beyond entertainment, they could explore new ways to enhance visitor experiences."

Having observed the huge market potential, many Chinese research organizations and enterprises have dived into the development of bionic robot fish and have built multiple prototypes, including bionic golden arowana and bionic finless porpoises.

The developer of Shanghai's robotic shark is the No. 111 Factory, a subsidiary of the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited. It has contributed its technical expertise to numerous national space missions, including manned space flights and lunar exploration projects.

Scientists said that in addition to providing entertainment and science education on sea animals, robotic fish can help advance ocean scientific research. For example, the robots can assist in studying the mechanics of how fish swim, as well as performing various tasks, such as monitoring water quality, archaeological exploration, marine mapping, and even combustible-ice detection.

Following a two-month whirlwind of discussions, the Shenzhen-based oceanarium has decided to keep the robotic whale shark on display and continue to provide more diverse and innovative exhibition formats to maximize the social value of the high-tech marine creatures.

Yu hopes aquariums can use their resources effectively to spark the public's curiosity about marine life and science, enhancing awareness of animal conservation and the ecological environment of our planet. Enditem