Aquarium's Shark is Robotic

Would you pay to see a robotic whale shark in an aquarium?

At Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, visitors pay 240 yuan (US$32) admission to see real marine life, but instead were treated to a robotic whale shark.

Some were in awe of the innovative way to present wildlife, while others felt deceived paying so much to get in and see a fake shark.

"I cannot believe the whale shark is fake. It's outrageous to charge over 200 yuan for a ticket," said one online commenter.

Two aquarium staff with the robotic shark

While another on Xiaohongshu, the online guidebook wrote: "It's a wonderful alternative to showcase large marine creatures without imprisoning them in a tank. Rather than obscuring the whale shark's true identity from visitors, the aquarium should embrace this opportunity to educate the public on the importance of animal protection."

Although the robotic whale shark costs millions of yuan to produce, it can cost over 100 million yuan (US$14 million) to care for a real one.

It's also worth noting sharks can live between 80 to 130 years in the wild, but only about five years in aquariums, according to Li Jianping, dean of the Academy of Future Ocean at the Ocean University of China.

The aquarium can ensure optimal water quality and temperature control, but there just isn't enough space for the sharks to roam.

Some visitors suggested perhaps the aquarium should inform people in advance that there is a robotic shark on display so that they can decide if they want to pay the admission or not...