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Established in 1972, it is the first public aquarium in Malaysia. Based in Zoo Negara, the entire aquarium is now centralised on a South-East Asian theme which emphasizes on conservation and education of wetland environments."
Established in 1972, the former Akuarium Negara is the first public aquarium in Malaysia. It was later renamed Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman (ATAR) in 1984 after the country's first Prime Minister.
Over the years, ATAR underwent several major refurbishments. The entire aquarium is now centralised on a South-East Asian theme which emphasizes on conservation and education of wetland environments.
'The Malaysian River Journey - from the mountains to the sea' forms the storyline of the new theme. Visitors will be taken to a journey through seven zones namely the Upper River, Mid River, Freshwater Wetlands, Lower River, Peat Swamps, Mangrove Swamps and the Marine Zone. These zones and ecosystems display various Malaysian aquatic flora and fauna (vertebrates and invertebrates) including those found within the South East Asian region. Over 200 species of fish is housed in the Aquarium. This educational experience is distinctive as visitors get to follow along a river's course from the mountains until it reaches the sea. The new endeavor, the first of its kind in the country and the region, aims to bring awareness to the public on the biodiversity and the importance of wetland conservation.
This building was originally constructed by Thamboosamy Pillai as a private Hindu temple, which remained in the hands of the family until the late 1920's.
As one of the city's infamous landmarks, it was the very first building in KL to boast of the Malaysian-style architecture, blending a unique combination of modern lines and Islamic motifs.
