Piranhas, parrots and more await at N.J. aquarium's incredible new Amazon experience

Camden's Adventure Aquarium's newest exhibit, Piranha Falls, is a multi-sensory, Amazonian experience. Watch video

CAMDEN -- In Adventure Aquarium's newest exhibit, the sound of water cascading over two towering waterfalls, walls of fresh, flowering foliage, and a school of more than 120 red-bellied piranha swimming as one transports visitors from Camden straight to the Amazon rainforest.

Piranha Falls: an Amazon Experience, opens to guests on Friday, and promises to thrill guests when -- at 15-minute intervals throughout the day -- an authentic rainforest rainstorm engulfs the exhibit in soothing showers, brilliant lightning, and rolling thunder. If you get close enough, you can even feel a refreshing mist from the rainstorm.

Adventure Aquarium's Director of Husbandry Marc Kind said the new exhibit was formerly part of the Rivers of the World zone, and was transformed into the Amazon Rainforest in just about two weeks.

"We started thinking about this a year ago," he said.

The old exhibit was gutted and a rain grid, speakers, lighting, and new animals were introduced in less than 20 days.

While the piranha are the stars, they do have company in the massive, open tank.

Kind said there are several freshwater stingrays and a 50-pound ripsaw catfish in the exhibit along with the piranha.

"We will be adding more animals eventually, but right now we're letting the piranha get adjusted," Kind said.

As with all exhibits at Adventure Aquarium, the main goal is to educate visitors.

"The Amazon gets so much rain during the rainy season, 120 inches per year," Kind said. "Here, we get about 40 inches per year. The water (in the Amazon) can extend up to 12 miles into the floodplains, filling up the Amazon basin.

Adventure Aquarium's newest exhibit, Piranha Falls, an Amazon Experience, features more than 120 red-bellied piranha, freshwater sting rays, and a authentic Amazonian thunderstorm, April 6, 2017. (Provided by Adventure Aquarium)Kelly Roncace 

"About 20 percent of the Earth's oxygen and water come from the Amazon," he said.

Across the walkway from the piranha tank is another new area where the aquarium can show off its unique collection of tropical birds.

Mango, a green macaw, along with three other birds including Trinidad -- the 26-year-old blue and gold macaw -- will rotate in and out of the exhibit throughout the day.

Executive Director and Vice President of Adventure Aquarium Vince Nicoletti is excited to bring this new experience to aquarium guests.

""Piranha Falls will offer our guests a unique multi-sensory experience of life on the Amazon River, virtually taking them deep into the largest rainforest on Earth without leaving New Jersey," said Nicoletti.

Piranha Falls opens to the public Friday and is included in general admission prices of $28 for adults and $21 for children.