'Turtle' swims in to welcome World Oceans Day
Students learn about the world's marine life during their trip to Changfeng Ocean World in Putuo District.
A giant sea turtle “swam” into a Shanghai aquarium on Thursday to welcome the upcoming World Oceans Day.
The colorful sea turtle, made from hundreds of waste cans and bottle caps, will be on display through June 9 at Changfeng Ocean World in Putuo District.
During the turtle’s short stay in Shanghai, it will help to raise awareness of marine resources and the protection of biological diversity.
Why a sea turtle? The aquarium said that it had freed tens of young sea turtles back to the sea over the years, with its sea turtle trainers making great efforts to teach them how to survive in the wild.
The display is part of a series of activities organized by the aquarium, a local radio station and the East China Sea Branch of the State Oceanic Administration to celebrate the 11th World Oceans Day on June 8.
Among the activities, people will be able to air their views on protecting marine life on radio. There's also an event at the aquarium where visitors can turn recyclable waste into creative products.
Le Jingyi, the Shanghai-born swimmer who won the 100 meters freestyle gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the United States, was at Thursday's launch ceremony. She called for more awareness about protecting the sea.
Students from Shanghai Jianping Experimental Primary School, on a day trip to the aquarium, were given books on marine life.
They visited what is the largest seahorse reproduction center in east China, feeding seahorses and observing them through microscopes.
“Oceans play an important role in social development. Life originated in the ocean, and oceans bring the world together and improves common development,” said Tang Wensheng, deputy director of the East China Sea Branch of State Oceanic Administration.
A sea turtle installation made from waste plastic is on display at Changfeng Ocean World to welcome World Oceans Day on June 8.
A student examines the structure of a seahorse using a microscope during a visit to Changfeng Ocean World.
Students visiting Changfeng Ocean World on Thursday receive books on marine life.
