ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando is now home to two critically-endangered great hammerhead sharks.


What You Need To Know

  • Two great hammerhead sharks at SeaWorld Orlando's Shark Encounter

  • The sharks, named Dutch and Dillion, were transfered from the Georgia Aquarium

  • Great hammerhead sharks are considered critically-endangered and are killed for their large dorsal fins

The young male sharks, named Dutch and Dillion, can be found at the park’s Shark Encounter attraction which features a 700,000-gallon aquarium.

Both sharks were transferred to SeaWorld form the Georgia Aquarium as part of a collaborative shark conservation program, according to SeaWorld. Dutch arrived in Orlando first in November of last year. Dillion arrived last month.

“These are our first great hammerhead sharks and we are thrilled to have these extraordinary animals join our population at SeaWorld Orlando,” said Jim Kinsler, curator of aquariums at SeaWorld Orlando, in a statement. “ It is our privilege to provide care for this critically endangered species and to bring greater awareness and understanding of this shark to the tens of millions of guests that visit us every year.”

The great hammerhead is the largest of the 9 hammerhead shark species. Right now, Dutch and Dillion are about 7 feet long and weigh about 120 pounds, according to SeaWord. They are expected to reach between 10 and 15 feet in length.

Great hammerhead sharks are listed as critically-endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The sharks are killed for their large dorsal fins. The great hammerhead population has declined between 50-80%, according to experts. 

In addition to Dutch and Dillion, SeaWorld’s Shark Encounter features several species of sharks, rays and fish.

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