S'pore Oceanarium, opening Jul. 24, to have new species like Japanese giant salamander & axolotls

Come Jul. 24, the Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa will open its doors to the public, where they can marvel at new exhibits and a whole bunch of new species as well.

The space, which will be three times the size of the previous S.E.A. Aquarium, will feature 22 zones such as "Singapore's Coast", with mangroves and native species, and "Whale Fall and Sea Mount", with a life-sized replica of a whale skeleton.

New species

Speaking to Mothership, Lam Xue Ying, acting senior vice president of the oceanarium, said the introduction of new species is considered very carefully.

"We must not only consider if we can provide the right environment for them, but also how new species fit into our broader mission — whether they help to tell important stories about biodiversity, conservation challenges."

These decisions are made after consultation with international accreditation and membership bodies such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Some new species that guests can check out include the American paddlefish, sterlet sturgeon, Japanese giant salamander, axolotl, Titicaca water frog, Japanese isopod and sunflower seastar.

A story on the ocean's evolution

Something else guests can look forward to, and a big change from the aquarium, is the inclusion of more prehistoric elements.

This was an intentional decision by the team, said Kim Hoon, assistant vice president of planning & growth.

The aquarium aims to tell the story of "not just what is happening today", but how life in the ocean has evolved over time, from the start of time.

"This helps visitors appreciate the diversity and resilience of marine life, as well as the challenges these ecosystems have faced and overcome throughout history," Kim said.

In fact, in the "Ancient Waters and Conquering Land" zone, guests can marvel at a life-sized animatronic of Dunkleosteus, a huge armoured fish from the Devonian period.

Education and conservation

The oceanarium will also be strengthening its focus on research and education.

In May 2025, it launched its Research and Learning Centre, located behind the oceanarium, which is equipped with learning labs, collaborative workspaces and seminar rooms.

There, scientists and researchers can carry out their work on-site.

The oceanarium is also collaborating with the National University of Singapore through the RWS-NUS Living Laboratory, on a five-year applied research project, as well as global organisations like ReShark to support species recovery efforts.

With its opening, the oceanarium will have an expanded suite of seven signature programmes for members of the public.

Five of these will be available from July, including a fossilist workshop for children.

What about the dolphins?

As for the dolphins previously located at Dolphin Island attraction, the oceanarium team is currently working on long-term management plans for the mammals, and will share more once it is finalised.

Years back, the attraction faced backlash from the public and Acres, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) after a video circulated of a dolphin apparently banging its head against a wall.

Grant Abel, assistant vice president of life sciences at the oceanarium, shared that the team "understand[s] and respect[s] that there are concerns about the welfare of dolphins under human care.

Abel cited a study on cetacean welfare in zoos and aquariums, which found that that the quality of human care directly impacts their welfare more significantly than other factors.

He also brought up a 2023 study which showed that the life expectancy of bottlenose dolphins can be between 1.65 and 3.55 times longer under human care than that of their wild counterparts.

Abel noted that the dolphins have been under their care for many years and "have done well under their care, which is "guided by science, empathy and long-term responsibility that follow international standards".

Currently, the dolphins live in nine large, interconnected lagoons and are fed a fresh nutritional diet of seafood imported from countries like Canada, Iceland and the U.S.

Additionally, he noted that the dolphins are familiar with human interaction and rely on the animal care specialists for care, nutrition, and veterinary support.

Therefore, transferring them to unfamiliar and uncontrolled conditions could negatively impact their health and well-being.

"Our focus remains on ensuring that they receive the highest quality of life, grounded in science and animal welfare," he said.

Top photo from Resorts World Sentosa and Canva