The Green Connection

The Green Connection is an aquarium and science discovery centre in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The Green Connection opened in May 2010 and is located just outside down-town Kota Kinabalu in the North west corner of the island of Borneo.

History

In 2005, the location where the aquarium now stands was a vacant swamp. Prof. Steve Oakley, a marine biologist working at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's (Unimas) Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, along with scientists working with him, were studying and working on rejuvenating coral reefs and rescuing marine life. They partnered with Sabah Foundation (YS), which had similar goals of educating the public, and which is now the major shareloder in Aquatica Aquarium and Discovery Centre Sdn Bhd, which owns the Green Connection.

By 2010, about 1-hectare (2.5-acre) had been developed, and the aquarium was opened to the public.

Exhibits

The Green Connection showcases Borneo's biodiversity with displays featuring over 1200 species from seven ecosystems, and interactive exhibits incorporating many aspects of aquatic science. It has 650,000 litres (170,000 US gal) of recirculating water, and exhibits 12,500 plants and animals representing 670 species. The centerpiece of the facility is a 4-metre (13 ft) high 450,000-litre (120,000 US gal) tank for viewing coral reef marine life, where typical reef life is grown using natural sunlight. Another display showcases one of the worlds most deadly snakes, the banded sea krait Laticauda colubrina.