Dolphin Blog
Brookfield Zoo’s seven bottlenose dolphins, accompanied by a team of veterinarians, animal care specialists, and support staff, have arrived safely to their temporary home at Minnesota Zoo. The animals’ stay in Minnesota allows for their habitat at Seven Seas to receive necessary updates and renovations.
Follow along to see our dolphins' adventures in Minnesota.
February 27, 2023
Watch an Incredible Dolphin Calf Rescue!
You may be familiar with the amazing dolphins at Brookfield Zoo, but did you know that Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo also leads the world's longest-running study of dolphins in the wild? Through our Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP), we've observed when wild dolphins are in danger—and we've stepped in to save their lives.
Recently, a 2-year-old female bottlenose dolphin calf had been spotted off the Gulf Coast of Florida with fishing lines cutting deeply into her tail flukes, creating drag and preventing normal swimming. It was clear that she might not survive the injury for long. And on February 21, the SDRP led an effort to catch, treat, and release her safely back to the wild! Watch our video to see the how this incredible rescue took place.
Over the years, the SDRP staff and its partners have come to the aid of dozens of bottlenose dolphins who have suffered life-threatening entanglements. Your support of CZS/Brookfield Zoo helps save wild dolphins like this calf. Thank you!
The rescue effort was conducted under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service permit 24359, and led by the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program in collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program and partners that included Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Southwest Field Lab, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution/FAU, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Animal Hospital, Sarasota Police Department, SeaWorld of Florida, and University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
February 14, 2023
Always in our Hearts!
While our dolphins may temporarily be at Minnesota Zoo, they are always in our hearts! Happy Valentine's Day from our sweet cetacean crew.
Our dolphins have now settled into their habitat at Minnesota Zoo, and are available to be seen by the public! Daily dolphin demonstrations are being held at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The dolphins can also be seen throughout the day in the Discovery Bay underwater viewing area.
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December 22, 2022
- Cetacean's greetings!
Our holly jolly dolphin Lucky and animal care specialist Bethany are sending holiday wishes from Minnesota Zoo while our Seven Seas building undergoes renovations.
BZ's dolphins and their care staff are all doing well, and the dolphins continue to settle into their temporary home at Minnesota Zoo's Discovery Bay. They can now be seen via their underwater viewing area or their upper-level viewing area. This space is also home to Ola, a Hawaiian monk seal, and the two species are separately rotated between the public-viewing pool and their behind-the-scenes pools. And, dolphin presentations at Minnesota Zoo's Discovery Bay open to the public on Friday, December 23!
November 21, 2022
Behind the Scenes: Dolphins Move to Minnesota Zoo
Recently, our seven bottlenose dolphins moved to Minnesota Zoo. They'll be there for several months while Seven Seas undergoes renovations. Find out more about this massive endeavor in the above video!