Atlantis, Paradise Island recently celebrated another milestone where its conservation efforts are concerned with the marking of the second birthday for its Smalltooth Sawfish pups.

The Smalltooth Sawfish, a critically endangered species, is a part of the ray family and use their “saw” or rostrum to hunt, prey and defend themselves.

The two male and two female pups were born April 12th, 2012 to Bimini Gal, the largest adult female Sawfish at the resort’s marine habitat facility, making Atlantis, Paradise Island the only known facility in the world to have reproductive success of the Smalltooth Sawfish.

An Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility, Atlantis has displayed Smalltooth Sawfish for over 18 years, acquiring its four adults – 3 females and 1 male – from Andros and Bimini between 1996 and 1999, and has been working on a breeding programme for several years. Since 2003, there has been limited success with Sawfish reproduction, however, by systematically tracking and documenting the reproductive activity of the adults, conducting routine examinations, ultrasounds and drawing blood for hormonal studies, the Atlantis Marine team, along with the Veterinarian team, was able to achieve this monumental feat.

There are now eight Smalltooth Sawfish in Atlantis’ Marine Habitat. That’s half of the world’s zoological population!

The pups now measure in size at 7ft, weighing 80lbs, and can be seen daily in the Ruins Flats.