Zeb Hogan hosts Nat Geo Wild's "Monster Fish," now in its sixth season. In each episode, Hogan immerses himself in a local culture, where fishing is often more than a sport or even a profession but a way of life. He tastes the regional cuisine, mingles at fish markets, listens to the harrowing stories of native fishermen and sleeps where his local guides do. Nat Geo Wild has scheduled a "Monster Fish" marathon from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, to celebrate the exhibit opening at the Tennessee Aquarium.If you go
› What: “Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants” exhibit.› When: Opens Saturday, Oct. 1.› Where: Riverplace building beside the Tennessee Aquarium’s ticketing center, 1 Broad St.› Admission: Free with aquarium admission of $29.95 adults, $18.95 children 3-12.› Phone: 1-800-262-0695.› Website: www.tnaqua.org.
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"Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants," an interactive exhibit based on the Nat Geo Wild series "Monster Fish," showcases the results of Dr. Zeb Hogan's decade-long search for the world's largest freshwater fish.Teaching resource
The College of Science at University of Nevada, Reno, where Zeb Hogan is a researcher, is the educational partner for the “Monster Fish” exhibition and provides support for Hogan’s participation in the project. The university has created an Educator’s Guide for children in grades 4-8 to explore the science and geography behind the exhibition and Hogan’s research. The guide provides a number of interactive classroom activities to engage students before and after a visit to the exhibition. This guide is available on the Aquarium’s website: tnaqua.org/animals-exhibits/monster-fish-in-search-of-river-giants.
"Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants," an interactive exhibit based on the Nat Geo Wild series "Monster Fish," showcases the results of Dr. Zeb Hogan's decade-long search for the world's largest freshwater fish.Dr. Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada aquatic ecologist and National Geographic fellow, has made a career out of collecting fish stories. His quest has led him to find, study and protect the remaining freshwater fish that reach epic proportions. Not just big fish but monsters. Despite their size, most of these behemoth species are rapidly declining in the wild. These ancient fish need help since they play critical roles in their freshwater habitats.
Aquarium guests will be able to take a deeper dive into the hidden world of these huge species when "Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants," a National Geographic exhibition, opens Saturday, Oct. 1. This special exhibition, which is free with Aquarium membership or general admission, will be located in the Riverplace building near the aquarium's ticketing center.
Hogan has taken millions of television viewers on his expeditions as the host of the Nat Geo Wild series "Monster Fish." From the cold, rushing waters of the Himalayas to the steamy, dark backwaters of the Amazon rain forest, Hogan's adventures peel back centuries of myth surrounding these legendary animals and shed new scientific light on their unique morphology and behaviors.
"These giant fish are real life Loch Ness monsters, a diverse assemblage of amazing and poorly understood fish," says Hogan. "Many of these fish are endangered, and so it's become a race against the clock to study and protect these gargantuan aquatic animals before they disappear forever."
Hogan says the Tennessee Aquarium is the perfect home for this exhibition.
"Together with the 'River Giants' exhibit in River Journey and the aquarium's work to save animals such as lake sturgeon, visitors will have a chance to experience and learn about these fish in a totally immersive way," he says. "The Tennessee Aquarium will truly be a one-stop shop for all things 'monster' fish and the only place in the world where the public can find such a comprehensive collection of photos, videos, sculptures, games, live fish and conservation activities."
"Monster Fish" takes visitors on a journey to river basins around the world to learn about colossal fish and the people that depend on them. Through life-size sculptures, hands-on interactive exhibits and videos from the field, the exhibition showcases close to 20 fish species and their diverse freshwater ecosystems.
One of these replica creatures, the super-size sawfish, is climbable. From mythical tales and storied traditions to threats and conservation efforts, guests will leave with a greater understanding of the connection between humans and fish.
"This fascinating exhibition is a trip around the world with one of Nat Geo's favorite explorers in search of bizarre and extraordinary species of freshwater fish," says Kathryn Keane, National Geographic's vice president of exhibitions. "Zeb Hogan shows us that despite their size, these fish are an increasingly fragile link in some of the most important freshwater ecosystems on Earth."
Themed areas of this new exhibition provide visitors with opportunities to learn about how monster fish grow, how scientists study them and how anglers and other individuals can help fish survive.
Dr. Anna George, director of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, says Hogan's work on Nat Geo Wild has inspired millions of people to think about freshwater fish and water quality.
The new exhibition should get "future conservationists excited about the monster fish in our backyard, such as lake sturgeon, alligator gar and American paddlefish. Hopefully that excitement leads them to discover there's more than 650 other fish species living here in the Southeast. We also hope they learn that simple actions we take at home, like not flushing old medicines down the toilet, helps the aquarium in our work to protect aquatic animals and the rivers they call home."