Peoria Standard

Shark Week, created by the Discovery Channel in 1988, has significantly grown in popularity over the years. Since 2010, Shark Week, held annually in July or August, has become the longest-running cable television programming event in history and is often referred to as a ‘cultural phenomenon.’ The 1975 film “Jaws” set the stage for increased awareness and popularity of sharks in the U.S.

Illinois hosts several unique shark-related exhibits and events this summer. A national traveling shark exhibit debuted at the Peoria Riverfront Museum in May. The exhibit, on loan from the American Museum of Natural History in New York, features life-size models of more than 70 shark species. It includes sharks ranging from the 5.5-inch pocket shark to the 33-foot whale shark.

The "Sharks" exhibit at the Peoria Riverfront Museum is open through Labor Day, September 2. Visitors can learn about the evolutionary history of sharks, which includes 540 species and 670 species of close relatives. The exhibit features replica fossils from the American Museum of Natural History and models of both ancient and modern shark species. Additionally, visitors can learn about fears and dangers related to sharks and ongoing efforts to protect them.

In Chicagoland, shark history is celebrated at Brookfield Zoo and Shedd Aquarium. At Brookfield Zoo, a Shark Feeding Adventure is available on select days through November 9 (note that there is a cost involved). Participants will work with zoo personnel to prepare food and feed sharks.

Participants must be at least 12 years old. After preparing food, they will assist staff during a scheduled public feeding time for the sharks. Animal care staff will educate participants on identifying different shark species and safely feeding them. Participants can also interact with staff and ask questions.

Shedd Aquarium offers shark feeding tours on Saturdays and Sundays through August. This 75-minute tour is available for ages six and up at an additional cost. Participants go behind the scenes above the 400,000-gallon shark habitat at Wild Reef to learn how seafood diets are prepared for sharks. They will also see how sharks have been trained to respond to their personal dinner bell at feeding time.

At Shedd Aquarium’s Wild Reef exhibit, more than 20 sharks reside within its main attraction—a 400,000-gallon habitat. These include blacktip reef sharks, sandbar sharks, spotted wobbegongs, zebra sharks, whitespotted bamboo sharks, horn sharks, leopard sharks, and swell sharks.

Despite these celebrations of shark life in Illinois' institutions, global threats to shark populations persist. Field scientists from Shedd Aquarium continue important research in the Caribbean while monitoring shark populations and patterns affected by human impacts such as commercial overfishing—estimated to kill around 100 million sharks each year. Shedd scientists are collaborating with partners to develop better protection plans for these vital creatures that maintain healthy ocean ecosystems.