The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's Restless Planet exhibit at Virginia Beach, Virginia, US, has been attributed with a 48 per cent increase in visits to the attraction.

Since its opening in late November, the new exhibit has attracted 78,000 guests to the aquarium, with the two month-period over December and January seeing the highest ever attendance at the venue.

Executive director Lynn Clements said: "These opening statistics certainly move us ultimately towards our long term goal of reaching a million visitors a year."

The new 12,000 square foot exhibit features four habitats that provide a glimpse of Virginia's distant past.

The new galleries include some of the world's most endangered animals and have increased the Aquarium's total collection by 6,000 animals.

A redevelopment at the aquarium, which included the new exhibit, has also seem the lobby area improved and restrooms being regenerated.