PREVIEW

Dolphins Delight In Returning Home To New Habitat In Chicago. Brookfield Zoo in Chicago has welcomed home seven bottlenose dolphins who have returned home, following the completion of an extensive $10 million renovation to their Seven Seas habitat. Lucky, 50; Tapeko, 42; Allie, 36; Kai, 29; Spree, 21; Noelani, 20; and Allison, 18 looked to be having a whale, or at least a cetacean, of a time reacclimatising to their environment. The significant makeover to the 37-year-old facility is aimed to enhance animal wellbeing. The upgrades to the dolphins’ environment will encourage natural behaviours including searching for food, playing, utilizing their echolocation abilities, chasing objects, and interacting with each other. New additions in the dolphins’ habitat include rockwork structures with anchors that animal care staff can attach a variety of enrichment items. Two centre rock elements also have built-in bubbler systems. The dolphins can play with the bubbles. The theme of the habitat now reflects the Sarasota Bay, Florida, area where the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Programme is based. Guests and scientists will even be able to hear the dolphins’ conversations thanks to underwater microphones!