Coral World Ocean Park
Template:Short description Template:Infobox zoo Coral World is a marine park and tourist attraction located next to Coki Beach on the East End of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Facilities and attractions
Since its opening in 1978, the park has featured a signature Underwater Observatory Tower. The tower descends Template:Convert in the ocean to allow underwater viewing. Later additions to the park include an Template:Convert circular Caribbean Reef Encounter tank, which houses local fish and other sea life, and an enclosure for South American sea lions. The park uses an open-water system to circulate ocean water through the exhibits.<ref name="coralworldvi">Template:Cite web</ref>
Other park animals include sea turtles, stingrays, juvenile sharks, seahorses, sea stars, conch, sea cucumbers, iguanas, and lorikeets. Many of the animals, such as the turtles, are rescued from the wild and released when possible.<ref name="coralworldvi" />
The park focuses on visitor education and interaction with the animals, through touch encounters, feedings, swims, snuba, and Sea Trek.<ref name="coralworldvi" />
History
Coral World opened in 1978, as Coral World International's second marine park, following Coral World Underwater Observatory in Eilat, Israel.<ref name="coralworld">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1989 it was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo.<ref name="coralworld" />
In 1995 another storm, Hurricane Marilyn, destroyed the observatory and other tanks. Coral World was sold to new owners more than a year later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the 1990s, Coral World hired former world boxing champion Julian Jackson as a celebrity tour guide, to attract more tourists to the park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007 the park added sea lions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2012 Coral World proposed adding a controversial dolphin swim attraction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2017 Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $2 million in damage to the park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2018 Coral World began construction of an in-ocean dolphinarium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Sea lion Remo jumping at Coral World -
Sea turtles feeding at Coral World
