Planet Shark: Predator or Prey is the current exhibit at the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas. It's the biggest exhibition of sharks in the world. It's very interactive and kid-friendly.

Sink your teeth into an amazing "out-of-water" shark experience that’s fun for all ages! Making only its second stop in the United States, Planet Shark: Predator or Prey features explanations and examinations of almost every aspect of the shark.


From evolution and biology to popular culture and the fin trade, this 12,000-square-foot five-gallery exhibition guides visitors through the murky myths and fascinating facts that have surrounded sharks for centuries.

One of nature’s oldest and most feared creatures, the shark also is one of the most misunderstood. Fishing pressure and media misrepresentation have put many species of this magnificent animal under serious threat of extinction. Planet Shark: Predator or Prey is a great educational step to help preserve these necessary apex predators.

Planet Shark: Just for Kids is an activity area within Planet Shark: Predator or Prey that engages children through imaginative hands-on interpretation areas, daily art murals, underwater-themed puzzles and more. A variety of activities designed for young ones will assist with making shark information accessible and non-scary.

Admission:

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey requires a surcharge in addition to the purchase of MNS general admission for a total admission cost of $18 for adults 18-61; $16 for seniors 62+ and students 12-17; $13 for children 2-11; and $5 for MNS members of all ages.

Children under 2 are free.

IMAX® shows require additional tickets: $7.50 for adults 18-61 (member adults $6); $6.50 for seniors 62+, students 12-17 and children 2-11 (member seniors, students and children $5). Children under 2 are free.

Twin Fin Deal: Maximize your sharky museum experience with the money-saving Twin Fin bundled ticket deal, which includes admission to Planet Shark: Predator or Prey and any IMAX® film.

Avoid lines by purchasing tickets online in advance. Check out the website for pictures, videos and more.

Planet Shark Enhancements and Programs

In the MNS Science Building, visitors can see live sharks and twice-weekly feedings in the lobby, shark dissections every Saturday in the Viewspace Theater, plus the family-fun Sharky Sundays (select Sundays) features crafts, science demos and hands-on-fun for all ages. All activities are included with the cost of general exhibits admission and will continue throughout the duration of Planet Shark: Predator or Prey, which closes Sept. 16, 2012.

What do sharks eat, and how often do they get hungry? Learn about their diets and see twice-weekly live shark feedings. Temporarily moved from the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, three live sharks are housed in a 515-gallon two-tank aquarium and will be on display through the duration of Planet Shark: Predator or Prey. An aquarist will be on hand twice weekly to answer questions before and after the feedings and talk about the sharks, making it a popular interactive activity.

Shark Dissections

Learn about the interesting anatomy of sharks, and see them like never before with this stimulating addition to the Planet Shark exhibit experience. Shark dissections will be performed by a member of the MNS education team who will also be on hand afterward to interact with families who want to learn more about the anatomy of the shark, answer questions and even allow you to don a pair of gloves and participate in a portion of a dissection yourself. Be sure to arrive early as dissections can often be standing room only.

Exhibition Run

Planet Shark runs through September 16, 2012.

Location

The Museum of Nature and Science campus is located in Fair Park. The Science Building is at 1318 S. 2nd Ave., the Nature Building is at 3535 Grand Ave., and the Planetarium is at 1620 First Ave., Dallas, TX 75210. Access MNS from Interstate 30 near downtown Dallas.

Parking is inside Fair Park via Gate 5 or Gate 6 and is always free, except during State Fair. MNS can also be accessed via the new DART Green Line with stops at MLK, Jr. and Fair Park stations.

What I Loved About Planet Shark

It was an interactive exhibit in a wide open space. Translation: It's perfect for kids. I took my 7-year-old daughter who is fascinated with sharks. She enjoyed coloring shark in the kid's area and drawing on the kid's mural wall. We took photos inside the shark's mouth. We saw lots of shark teeth and I turned that into a lesson in brushing your teeth. When we visited, we didn't see anyone who seemed afraid of the exhibit.