Minnesota Zoo to Temporarily House Dolphins in Partnership with Brookfield Zoo
Our special guests are making a big splash!
The dolphins from Brookfield Zoo who are staying at the MN Zoo while their habitat is being renovated will have access to explore the public-viewing pool in Discovery Bay.
Due to limited capacity, groups coming to the Zoo aren't able to go to the dolphin demo, however, you can go view the dolphins in the upper level area in between the demos. Also, you can check out the Wings & Things show in the Target Learning Center at 10:30 AM or 2 PM with no reservations.
During training demonstrations, the Brookfield Zoo team will introduce you to a wide range of dolphins’ natural behaviors. You’ll learn how the care staff support dolphins’ health and well-being through exercise, socializing and learning new skills. Come see dolphins communicate, feed, problem-solve and play!
Our daily Dolphin Training Demonstrations are included with Zoo admission, but with limited seating, reservations are needed. Once you select your day and time to visit the Zoo, click the 'Checkout' button in your cart. A pop-up prompt will allow you to check availability and reserve a spot for training demonstrations, which take place at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day. If you were unable to click the prompt, a link will also be provided within your general admission order confirmation.
Due to limited seating, we cannot accommodate large groups for this demonstration experience. Please limit seat reservations to your household size (max of 10). Groups are welcomed to observe from our under-water viewing area and can access upper-level viewing when open, outside of demonstration times.
Seating is limited so reserve your tickets today – there is no additional fee to attend Dolphin Training Demonstrations.
1 – Start by visiting Plan Your Visit and click “Get Day Timed Tickets Today!”
2 – Select a day and time to visit the Zoo and add the tickets to your cart
3 – Note the date and time of your daytime Zoo ticket reservation
4 – Click “Checkout” and look for the “Dolphin Training Demonstration” link on the next page
5 – Click on the “Dolphin Training Demonstration” link (you may be prompted to re-login)
6 – Use the calendar to select the Training Demonstration that corresponds with the day and time of your Zoo visit
7 – Add the Dolphin Training Demonstration tickets to your cart and complete the checkout process
*Please note, if you need both accessible and regular seating tickets, please add one type of the ticket to your cart then press the back button in your browser to navigate back to the “Dolphin Training Demonstration” page to add the other type.
The Zoo is excited to host daily Dolphin Training Demonstrations at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, beginning Friday, December 23. Please note: demonstrations will not be held on Tuesday, January 3 and Wednesday, January 4.
During training demonstrations, the Brookfield Zoo team at the Minnesota Zoo will introduce you to a wide range of dolphins’ natural behaviors. You’ll learn how the care staff support dolphins’ health and well-being through exercise, socializing and learning new skills. Come see dolphins communicate, feed, problem-solve and play! These daily sessions will be about 15-20 minutes in length and generally feature a rotation of 3-5 dolphins. For those with sensory sensitivities, please note, music is played before and during the demonstration and microphones are used throughout.
If you have reserved tickets for the 10:30 am Dolphin Training Demonstration, please consider arriving early to ensure you have enough time to make your way to Discovery Bay to be seated for the demonstration. Once the demonstration begins, we are unable to provide access to any late-arriving guests.
Dolphin Training Demonstrations are included with your Zoo admission; however, with limited seating available, advance reservations are needed. If capacity allows, guests without reserved seats will be able to attend a demonstration on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.
Yes! Underwater viewing is accessible in our Discovery Bay Great Hall. Additionally, when demonstrations are not taking place, our upper-level animal viewing area will be open to guests.
Where they live :
Bottlenose dolphins live in tropical and temperate ocean waters around the world. They may be found offshore in deep waters or in coastal areas such as bays, marshes, or even in large rivers that empty to the sea.
What they eat:
These animals are active predators that prey on a variety of fish, squid and crustaceans, such as shrimp. Adults eat about five percent of their body weight daily.
What they do:
Dolphins communicate using a series of squeaks, grunts, whines, clicks and whistles. Touch is also used in communication.
How they’re doing:
Bottlenose dolphins are protected throughout much of their range. Overall, they are not threatened with extinction, however certain subpopulations are endangered. The main threats to dolphins include pollution, habitat degradation, overfishing and interactions with fishing gear.

What is Enrichment?
Enrichment is a process for enhancing an animal’s well-being. Teams of animal care specialists and others work to make changes to an animal’s care or environment. These changes provide animals with choice, stimulation, and are designed to encourage natural behaviors. Natural dolphin behaviors include foraging, problem solving and play.
Big Benefits
Marine mammal enrichment programs are just as important to animal welfare as proper nutrition, high-tech water filtration systems, and regular vet check-ups. They provide a win-win-win situation for animals, animal care specialists and guests by reinforcing the bond between animals and their caretakers and providing fun, educational opportunities for visitors.
Variety is Key
There are many kinds of dolphin enrichment. Sensory enrichment might include natural underwater sounds or sprinklers over the water’s surface. Items such as basketballs and puzzle feeders can promote exploration and exercise. Interaction with animal care specialists during training sessions is a form of enrichment as well.
Training 101
Training programs inspire animals to participate in their own health care. Each dolphin in this group knows roughly 150–250 behaviors. Commonly learned behaviors include opening mouths for exams, blood sampling, and presenting their body for ultrasounds.
Allie, born in 1987, lived at the Minnesota Zoo from 2008-2012; she spends a lot of time with Tapeko
Kai, born in 1994, is the second male in the group
Lucky, born in 1974, is the oldest of the group and father of Noelani
Noelani, born in 2003, is sister to Allison and is known for her tail-splash and close relationship with her sister and Spree
Spree, born in 2002 at the Minnesota Zoo, is known for being very connected with the entire group, especially Noelani
Tapeko, born in 1982, is the mother of Noelani and Allison
In partnership with fellow AZA-accredited institution Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, the Minnesota Zoo is assisting with the temporary housing of seven bottlenose dolphins. These dolphins were transported to the Minnesota Zoo from Brookfield Zoo on November 2. The animals are being given time to acclimate behind the scenes and the Zoo will announce on social media when they will be publicly visible.
The animals will remain in Minnesota while Brookfield Zoo embarks on a renovation of its dolphin habitat. Seven animal care specialists from Brookfield Zoo will remain in Minnesota to provide daily care, enrichment, and training, supported by Minnesota Zoo staff. Once renovation work is complete, the dolphins will return to Illinois.
“The Minnesota Zoo has a long history of partnering with sister institutions in the fields of animal care, health, and conservation,” said Minnesota Zoo Director John Frawley. “By temporarily providing housing to Brookfield’s dolphins, as we similarly did in 2009, we are assisting our colleagues in Illinois as they make habitat improvements, while also helping connect Minnesotans to this incredible species and the importance of ocean conservation.”
“We are grateful to our colleagues at the Minnesota Zoo for providing a space for our dolphins while their home habitat is being renovated,” said Rita Stacey, Vice President of Animal Programs for the Chicago Zoological Society. “The size of the marine mammal pools at the Minnesota Zoo allows our entire dolphin group to remain together, which helps in the acclimation to their new temporary home.”
For five of the seven dolphins, this is a return visit to Minnesota. This includes Spree, who was born at the Minnesota Zoo in 2002, and Allie who came to the Minnesota Zoo in 2008. The other three females, Tapeko, Noelani, and Allison, all spent time at the Minnesota Zoo in late 2009, while upgrades were being made to their habitat at Brookfield Zoo. For the two males, Lucky and Kai, this will be their first time in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Zoo housed dolphins until 2012. The dolphins being cared for at that time were moved and integrated into larger groups at partner institutions. For the wellbeing of dolphins, they need to live in social groups, and the Dolphin Consortium – a partnership program of a select number of accredited dolphin facilities that advises on dolphin care, placement, and genetic diversity within accredited zoos and aquariums - determined a proper social configuration was not available for the Minnesota Zoo.
Since then, the Zoo has played a critical role in housing Hawaiian monk seals, one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. In 2015, a group of five senior, non-releasable Hawaiian monk seals joined the Minnesota Zoo to be ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The Minnesota Zoo has been the only institution to house this species within the continental United States. As the years have gone by, the group of Hawaiian monk seals has become smaller, now with only one seal in the Zoo’s care – Ola, who turned 27 in June. Known for being a solitary species, Ola continues to receive the specialized care and enrichment she needs with her advanced age.
This new, temporary arrangement of housing dolphins provides Minnesotans with a unique opportunity to view another engaging marine mammal and learn about the importance of conserving our world’s shared ocean. Once the group fully acclimates, the dolphins will be visible in the Zoo’s Discovery Bay. The pools in Discovery Bay recently underwent a number of behind-the-scenes updates to allow for the dual care of dolphins and Ola – with Ola having solo access to the main pool at times, followed by dolphin-exclusive access.
Follow the Minnesota Zoo’s website and social media channels for updates on when the dolphins will be visible to the public.
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