You Can Save Israel's Unique Aquatic Habitats!

Shmuel Levy, 55, has the special job of caring for one of the most important exhibits at the Aquarium: the coral tank.

The first corals arrived at the Aquarium in 2016 and the preparation of the display for receiving the corals was long and complex. The first corals came from the coral reef of "Kaza" Beach in Eilat in an rescue operation together with the Israel Parks and Nature Authority.

We managed to speed up the coral absorption process and reach a state of correct chemical balance in the water that is precisely adapted to the corals. The next issue that needed to be planned accurately was the lighting conditions. When growing corals, lighting is the most critical part, because without proper lighting, the cooperative algae of the corals will die and thus lead to the death of the corals. 

Shmuel has been working at the Aquarium since 2015, when it was still under construction. Before then, from 1991, he had worked with fish and corals in aquariums and studied with experts in the field. Initially, he was in charge of the “Wet Side Story” aquatic exhibit at the Zoo which served as a precursor to the aquarium.

Donated by the San Diego community, this exhibit presents fresh and saltwater animals from around the world.  Shmuel was the first person to fill water in tanks there and was part of the team that put the first fish on display. 

So how does Shmuel’s work day look?

He starts with a tour and checks that all life systems are working, that the pumps are working properly and that the temperature in the water is stable. He takes a look at corals when they are in the dark, to make sure if they are closed or open, and checks the chemistry of the water to see if it needs to be enriched with additives, since the corals in their construction process consume quite a few substances from the water. Three times a week, he accompanies one of the volunteer divers in cleaning the tank and performing various activities with the corals such as ventilation or sliding them around so that dirt does not accumulate. 

Although most of our corals' nutrition comes from the light itself (in the process of photosynthesis carried out by their cooperative algae), nutritional supplements are needed, so Shmuel gives them small crustaceans called artemias twice a week. Corals need to be monitored daily and he checks their colors, looks to see that everything is normal in the container and to determine if certain corals need to be moved to make them feel better.

In a joint project of the Gottesman Family Israel Aquarium and the Israel Marine Mammal Research Assistance Center (IMMRAC), the skeleton of one of the largest whales (17 meters/56 feet) to be washed ashore in Israel was excavated from the Nitzanim sand dunes last month.

The whale skeleton had been buried in the dunes as part of the preservation process following its arrival at the beach. In coordination and cooperation with INPA, the operation of uncovering the bones began with teams participating from the Biblical Zoo, the Israel Aquarium, and volunteers from IMMRAC. 

At the end of two days of hard, back-breaking labor, the entire skeleton of the whale was revealed in all its glory. The bones were carefully packed and labeled and then transferred to the Aquarium where they will undergo cleaning and preservation processes, which are expected to take about a year.

At the end of the treatment of the bones and reconstruction of the skeleton, the whale will be displayed in a unique permanent exhibit that will allow visitors the opportunity to observe this huge marine mammal up close and gain a deeper understanding of the marine environment in our region.