Numbers That Tell a Story

The sea lion habitat’s new stairway window and mesh front allow you an incredibly close view of our two new sea lions — and something else: numbers branded on their backs. Otis (C507) and Biff (C700) were among a group of sea lions who had found an easy meal of chinook salmon along the fish ladders of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River in Oregon. It was a case of federally protected marine mammals eating federally endangered fish. To monitor the incidence of predation on the salmon population, wildlife biologists and veterinarians branded the sea lions with numbers large enough to see from a distance. The procedure was done under anesthesia, and the animals were given a full medical exam as part of the process.

Mission Accomplished

You might not automatically associate remote-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) with the Midwest, but a maximum-capacity field of students from the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin took part in the first Shedd Aquarium Midwest MATE ROV regional competition on Saturday, May 2, at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The event is coordinated by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center.

An Amazing Oceanarium Opening

 
Pacific white-sided dolphins

Oceanarium Opening on YouTube and Flickr

We're celebrating the Oceanarium grand opening with special animal encounters and chats, animals to touch in the tide pool, games, stilt walkers, divers, magicians and jugglers!

Check out this video of a Shedd tot in a Polar Play Zone penguin suit:



See more footage captured by Shedd and our guests on our YouTube channel and Flickr group.


Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor

More Oceanarium Opening Photos

 
Members of Chicago Sky and 2016 Paralympians team join Amy Ritter-Cowen and Anna Davlantes (center) at Sunday's opening

Oceanarium Opening Photos and Video

 
Shedd President and CEO Ted Beattie, The Blackhawk's Tommy Hawk, Bobby Hull and Ice Crew Girls cut the ribbon

Oceanarium Opening Day - 8:30 a.m.

The Oceanarium has been previewed by the media and Shedd members, and will open to the public in 30 minutes! 

Here's a sneak peek: 

 
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest

Oceanarium Member Preview

 
Shedd members are celebrating the reimagined Oceanarium today at the exclusive members preview. Stay tuned for photos, videos and other updates of the public opening on May 23.

Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor

Oceanarium Media Preview

This morning, Shedd held a special media preview of the reimagined Oceanarium, which opens to the public on May 23! Below are a few stories from the Chicago media we wanted to share:

ABC-7
FOX Chicago
WGN-TV

Follow us on Twitter opening weekend for updates and prizes.

Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor

Oceanarium Animal Homecoming

 
After nearly nine months “on vacation,” our beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins and Alaska sea otters are back home. We’ve also welcomed new animals to the Oceanarium family, including two California sea lions, temperate-weather penguins, a new Pacific white-sided dolphin and a variety of Pacific Northwest fishes and invertebrates.

Animal care is our top priority. Whether they were moved by road, by air, or by a combination of the two, all of the animals traveled safely and quickly, thanks to careful planning and the training we did with them before they were moved.

Here are highlights of their journey back to Shedd.