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Minnesota Zoo was one of only a few facilities with a habitat During planning for the move, it was also decided that the
large enough to accommodate our entire group of dolphins. Zoo’s marine mammal care team would provide daily care to
Like Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Minnesota Zoo is accredited by the dolphins while they were at Minnesota Zoo and engage
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and by the Alliance of with them in the same manner they do at Seven Seas. At any one
Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. These accreditations time, five to seven animal care specialists from Brookfield Zoo
ensure that both facilities meet or surpass the highest standards Chicago were there working with the dolphins, including two
of animal care and welfare. who volunteered to relocate there full time for the full 15 months.
Furthermore, all five of our female dolphins had lived at the They maintained the dolphins’ daily routine of feedings, training,
Minnesota Zoo’s Discovery Bay before. Spree was born there, and and enrichment.
the other four females had lived there temporarily during the last At least, one member of the Zoo’s veterinary team rotated up
major renovation of the Seven Seas facility in 2009. These dolphins’ each month to perform medical examinations on the animals to
familiarity with the habitat would ease their adjustment. ensure they remained in good physical health.

The Move
The logistics of moving seven large marine mammals from
one facility to another in one go was not easy. Each animal
can weigh up to about 500 pounds and measure 7.5 to 9.5
feet long. Although dolphins are marine mammals and have
lungs, the transport was complicated. Many factors, including
temperature and humidity, had to be monitored and controlled
during transport, as well as the animals’ respiration and other
health indicators.
Federal and state laws regulate the transport of animals
to ensure their humane treatment. Brookfield Zoo Chicago
is committed to the highest standards for transporting all
of our animals, including the very stringent requirements of
our accreditation organizations. Before travel, the dolphins
were given thorough physical evaluations to ensure they were
in good health. “All of them had transported at some point
in their lives,” said Gonka. “They had all been trained to
go into the carriers and voluntarily participate in
the move.”
During transport, each dolphin rested
comfortably in a sling‑like bed inside an
open transport carrier that held water. A After arriving at Minnesota Zoo, the dolphins were transferred from the
team of Brookfield Zoo veterinarians, transport carriers and into the back pools at Discovery Bay. They spent
marine mammal care specialists, and a few weeks there to acclimate comfortably to their new environment
support staff accompanied the animals, and to be observed by staff and examined by veterinarians before they
were given access to the main habitat.
which range in age from 17 to 48, to
make sure they arrived in good physical
and mental condition. Animal care
specialists made sure the animals were kept
moist with water. Veterinarians attended to
each animal’s health and any signs of discomfort.

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