The São Paulo Aquarium (ASP) was inaugurated in 2006 in the Ipiranga neighborhood and is the first themed aquarium in Latin America. ASP featured a single sector, with a total area of 3,000 m², where 25 tanks/aquariums were built with species of fish, reptiles, and mammals that inhabit various ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, Pantanal, and the Tietê River Basin.
In 2008, the first expansion of the institution took place, with the construction of 2,000 m² for the creation of the Sea World. This expansion included an increase of 11 tanks representing the gradual transition between freshwater and marine environments, as well as major marine ecosystems such as mangroves, sandy beaches, rocky shores, oceans, and coral reefs. This new sector includes different types of fish, sharks, rays, and penguins.
In 2009, 10 new tanks/enclosures were built in 3,000 m² to create the Amazon sector, where visitors can find the Amazonian manatee, collared anteater, brown howler monkey, otters, and giant Amazonian fish such as pirarucus, redtail catfish, tambaquis, and gilded catfish.
By 2015, there had been a significant expansion, with the addition of 13 new tanks/enclosures covering an area of 7,000 m². This expansion invites visitors to journey into the animal world to learn about animals from various countries. Meerkats and lemurs from Africa; large flying foxes and pythons from Indonesia; kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, and koalas from Australia; seals, fur seals, and polar bears have come to delight and further engage visitors.
Today, the Aquarium covers a total of 15,000 m² with approximately 4 million liters of water and thousands of animals from hundreds of species. Considered a reference in animal care, welfare, and management, ASP has also contributed to various conservation projects working with animals in their natural environments over the years.
