The Dubai Aquarium has one of the largest population of sand sharks in terms of number of individuals, which were assigned by the International Union for Conservation of Nature a conservation status of "Close to vulnerable position", which is caused by a slow reproductive cycle and the extermination of sharks by fin hunters.
The shark breeding program was developed by the Dubai Aquarium in conjunction with the Australian Aquarium in Melbourne. Similar programs for assisted reproduction of Pacific dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Pyrenean goats, cheetahs and large pandas are already being successfully implemented by aquariums and zoos. This initiative not only informs humanity about the problems of conservation of endangered species of marine inhabitants, but also is an example of successful artificial maintenance of the population without constant replenishment of individuals from the wild.
