The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) sits in Flatts Village, on a narrow bridge of land near the geographic center of Bermuda. Established by the Bermuda government in 1926 to support the island’s growing tourism industry, it combines a public aquarium, a natural history museum, and a small zoo on one waterside site, making it one of the territory’s most visited attractions.
Unlike many larger zoos and aquariums, BAMZ tells a tightly focused story: the ecology of Bermuda and its surrounding reef, paired with a handful of exhibits highlighting other island ecosystems around the world. The centerpiece is the North Rock exhibit, a 140,000-gallon tank built as a living replica of the real North Rock reef formation offshore.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Flatts Village, Bermuda
- Opened: 1926
- Operator: Bermuda Government (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), with support from the Bermuda Zoological Society
- Size: Largest tank holds about 140,000 US gallons (North Rock exhibit)
- Species/Animal Count: About 300 animals, including over 200 fish and invertebrate species
- Annual Visitors: About 100,000
- Famous For: The North Rock exhibit, a living replica of a real reef formation off Bermuda’s coast
Inside the Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo
The aquarium wing houses more than 200 species of fish and invertebrates across naturalistic displays, from the reef fish of North Rock to smaller tabletop tanks in the Local Tails exhibit that showcase animals native to or introduced on the island. The adjoining zoo keeps around 300 animals in total, with exhibits grouped by island ecosystem, including Caribbean flamingos, Madagascar species, and Australasian wildlife. The South American Aviary, a walk-through exhibit of tropical birds, is one of the oldest displays still in use at the facility, alongside a natural history museum covering Bermuda’s geology and maritime past.
Conservation and Community Role
BAMZ is owned and run by the Bermuda government, with major support from the nonprofit Bermuda Zoological Society and the Atlantic Conservation Partnership. The facility has held accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1993 and has taken part in multiple AZA Species Survival Plans for threatened species. Drawing roughly 100,000 visitors a year, it functions as both a tourist destination and a hub for Bermuda’s environmental education programs.
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Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo FAQs
Where is the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo located?
It’s in Flatts Village, Bermuda, near the geographic center of the island.
How old is the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo?
It was established by the Bermuda government in 1926, making it one of the older aquariums still operating today.
What is the North Rock exhibit?
It’s the aquarium’s signature display, a roughly 140,000-gallon tank built as a living replica of North Rock, a real reef formation off Bermuda’s coast.
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Photo: Curtis & Renee / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.