Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

The aquariums were all very clean and the educational exhibits and preserved animals were very nice. However, all the stingrays in the big aquarium had their tails cut off. Some aquariums were so small even the fish looked bored and stressed. The manatee and turtle tanks were an absolute disgrace. There are swimming pools for humans bigger than those enclosures. One manatee was isolated in a tiny pool. The other three were in a plain concrete pool. There were about 20 turtles packed into one pool. And another pool with a diameter of maybe 7 feet with 4 turtles. Ironic how they are inches away from the ocean. The turtles looked very unhealthy, grey in color, and flakey skin. I’ve see wild turtles scuba diving, and they don’t look like that. These animals were clearly captured for these exhibits, not rehabilitation projects. I understand aquariums are a fun attraction for families, but the amount of toddlers and children screaming and using the aquarium as a jungle gym was unbearable. Strollers piled in every corner of the walkways, babies screaming, toddlers running around, children shoving people out of the way, pounding on the glass, and blocking entire exhibits. There needs to be an age restriction. If your child cannot quietly observe and learn about the animals, they have no business at an educational park. This is not a space for playing, running around, and screaming. Tickets with reserved entrance times to maintain crowds would be nice. The crowds and children could be tolerated, but keeping intelligent life in enclosures like that is shameful. This aquarium is clearly a place for entertainment without consideration for animal welfare, rather than an aquarium made for preservation of species and rehabilitation of hurt marine life.