Crews used large nets, water-filled containers and box trucks to relocate hundreds of river otters, sea turtles, manatees, penguins and sharks to their new home: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Mote educates upward of 350,000 guests each year and it's expected to double that in the new center, Cooper said. It cost $130 million to build. It took time to make sure the habitats at the new Mote ...