From sunflower sea stars to zebra sharks, Shedd Aquarium has the privilege of caring for over 50 endangered species, both state-endangered and listed on the IUCN Red List standards.
These animals, at risk of extinction, are ambassadors for their wild counterparts. Here at the aquarium, you have the incredible opportunity to open your heart and mind to creatures you may never see in the wild. Shedd invites you to turn that spark of connection into a lifelong commitment — to ensure these remarkable creatures have a future beyond our walls.
Dive in and discover some of the endangered species you can come eye to eye with and how we are helping protect them!
Sunflower Sea Stars
Did you know that the sunflower sea star is the largest sea star species? These ocean giants can grow up to 3 feet wide and have as many as 24 arms!
Recently, this critically endangered species has been hit hard by sea star wasting syndrome and the effects of climate change — their population has dropped by 90%.
Why does this matter? Sunflower sea stars eat sea urchins, which munch on kelp forests as their main source of food. By keeping sea urchin populations in check, sunflower sea stars help preserve kelp forests, which are home to many marine animals and absorb carbon dioxide.
Our animal care teams are working hard to raise sunflower sea stars, and we’ve been among the first to discover valuable information about what these creatures need to grow and thrive.
Want to see them up close? Head to the Polar Play Zone and Abbott Oceanarium to say hi to the sea stars!
Zebra Sharks
What animal is born with stripes and grows up to have spots? Zebra sharks! This unique species is named after their appearance as pups: dark brown with yellowish stripes. The stripey pattern on their tail mimics the look of a venomous snake, warding away predators. As they mature, zebra sharks become tan with small black dots, now camouflaging into the rocky sediment and caves.
Global populations of sharks and rays have declined 71% over the last 50 years, mainly due to overfishing. Shedd is proud to be a founding partner of ReShark, a program committed to recovering threatened shark and ray populations around the world.
ReShark’s StAR Project is focused on selecting approved breeding pairs at accredited institutions to collect viable eggs. The eggs are then shipped to Raja Ampat, Indonesia, where they hatch and grow under the care of local aquarist teams and are later released to rebuild wild populations.
Want to see these spotty swimmers in action? Visit them in Wild Reef!
Lake Sturgeon
Lake sturgeons have been around since the time of dinosaurs — they appeared in the fossil record 136 million years ago.
Despite being around for millennia, lake sturgeons are now endangered due to overfishing. As long-lived species, they are slow to reach maturity and reproduce. Overfishing not only reduces the population, but prevents repopulation as many fish are removed before they have the chance to spawn.
One way to protect these wild populations is to preserve their home, the Great Lakes. Join us to restore nearby beaches, waterways and forest preserves through Shedd Aquarium Action Days! Together we can ensure that our natural spaces thrive.
Dip your hand into cool water and feel a sturgeon’s bony plates at our At Home on the Great Lakes exhibit!
Sea Otter
Since 2022, Shedd has supported Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Surrogacy Program, which raises rescued orphaned sea otter pups to hopefully return them to the wild. Shedd plays an important role by providing a temporary home for non-releasable juvenile female otters who will possibly become surrogate mothers for those pups.
Jade is Shedd’s newest non-releasable rescued southern sea otter. She made her public debut in June 2025 and has been learning important skills to pass onto pups, like fur grooming, diving to various depths and foraging for food.
This program is incredibly important to the conservation of southern sea otters, whose populations off the coast of California are most at risk. Sea otters are keystone species, meaning that they serve as the “backbone” of an ecosystem and are a good indicator of ocean health.
Visit these furry, playful animals in the Abbott Oceanarium.
Photo by: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Bowmouth Guitarfish
These fish are native to the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, which is nearly halfway across the globe! They hunt using mainly their sense of smell since their eyes are on the top of their heads to detect predators, and blend into the ocean floor with sandy coloring.
Shedd’s two bowmouth guitarfish arrived as pups after their mother was inadvertently caught in a fishing net in Indonesia. This species is classified as critically endangered and faces threats like overfishing and bycatch, habitat degradation and pollution.
Currently, Shedd is working with the IUCN, field researchers and other accredited aquariums to develop a comprehensive conservation and recovery plan for the bowmouth guitarfish.
You can see these camouflaged creatures in Wild Reef!
Coral
Colorful and eye-catching, coral reefs support 25% of ocean life. They offer habitats and nutrition to a number of marine animals, from small fish to larger invertebrates like turtles. Coral reefs are some of the world’s largest living structures, and some can even be seen from outer space.
The greatest threat to coral reefs is climate change. Warming ocean waters puts stress on the coral, causing them to expel their symbiotic algae. This process is commonly referred to as coral bleaching and essentially means that the coral is starving.
Shedd scientists are leading groundbreaking research to understand coral resilience to rising ocean temperatures. By analyzing the genetics of Caribbean coral species, they are uncovering key traits that help naturally resilient corals survive in warming waters.
Check out these tiny animals throughout the aquarium in Wild Reef, Oceans gallery and the stunning saltwater habitat in Wonder of Water!
What You Can Do
Protecting aquatic life is at the heart of Shedd’s mission, as demonstrated through our commitment to Reverse the Red and our participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE program, or Saving Animals From Extinction. Together, we can drive change. Visiting Shedd and learning about these endangered species is a great first step toward protecting them.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is currently facing potential changes that could undermine its vital protections to all endangered animals, putting vulnerable populations and their homes at serious risk of irreversible harm.
You can Act with Shedd and send a letter to your lawmakers to make a difference for the thousands of species that risk extinction. From Chicago to the global stage, we can all champion science-based policies to protect these incredible aquatic animals.
Adelyn Mui, summer 2025 Development Team intern