February 09, 2009
Keep up to date with Shedd's Oceanarium animals and trainers with this Web diary series about all their doings off site during the renovation. In this entry, marine mammal trainer Indya Watts takes us behind the scenes of Minnesota Zoo for a sea otter enrichment exercise.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
January 21, 2009
The renovated sea lion habitat in construction.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
December 29, 2008
December 24, 2008
At Shedd, we use eco-friendly paints when we are working in our exhibit areas like the Oceanarium and behind the scenes. Many paints, as well as other home improvement products like cleaners and caulk, contain chemicals that are not good for us (or our animals) to breathe. These paints contain chemical and solvents, known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and emit gas into our homes. We limit our exposure to VOCs and work to make the air as clean as we can for our animals, guests and staff. Look for low- and no-VOC paints at your local hardware store.
Posted by Reginald Brown, facilities
December 10, 2008
Keep up to date with Shedd's Oceanarium animals and trainers with this Web diary series about all their doings off site during the renovation. In this entry, marine mammal trainer Madelynn Hettiger takes us behind-the-scenes at Mystic Aquarium.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
November 16, 2008
Keep up to date with Shedd's Oceanarium animals and trainers with this Web diary series about all their doings off site during the renovation. In this entry, marine mammal trainer Indya Watts talks about how the sea otters and staff were transported to their temporary home at Minnesota Zoo.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
November 07, 2008
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
October 31, 2008
Keep up to date with Shedd's Oceanarium animals and trainers with this Web diary series about all their doings off site during the renovation. In this entry, marine mammal trainer Madelynn Hettiger talks about how the beluga whales, dolphins and staff are adjusting in their temporary home at Mystic Aquarium.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
October 08, 2008
Construction is underway! Behind the scenes at Shedd, work has begun on reimagining the Oceanarium. Take a look at these construction photos of the Oceanarium as you’ve never seen it before.
And keep up to date with the marine mammals and trainers during the renovation with our Web diary series about all their doings off site.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
September 26, 2008
Our belugas are doing well and are adapting to their new areas at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. The biggest novelty for them is living in outdoor pools. They don’t seem to like rain, but the omnipresent gulls in this seaport are a fascinating new phenomenon to most of them. The gulls swoop down toward the pool during feeding sessions to try to get the fish, and their flight patterns startle some of the whales. But the funniest thing I’ve experienced so far was when a gull was floating in the beluga habitat, its legs dangling in the water. Kayavak, our 9-year-old female, saw the gull and the dangling feet, and she probably assumed that it was a new toy that we were offering. She hovered under the bird, getting closer and closer, and she even opened her mouth, as she does with many toys. But something about the feet and the gull must have seemed different because she never actually grabbed the bird. But she was sure curious! I wonder what would have happened had she grabbed the gull’s feet.
Posted by Ken Ramirez, animal collections and training
