Dolphin Lagoon

Dolfijnendelta, Dolphin Delta

In this picture you can see a seclusion pool for Bottlenose Dolphins in side of the huge Dolphin Lagoon.

The whole area of the Dolphin Lagoon covers three hectares, and is home to a breeding group of Bottlenose Dolphins, Pacific Walrusses and Californian Sealions. Although the institution is located by the sea shore the pool for the Dolphins is artificial. The natural biotope exhibit contains 15 million litres of real seawater in total, shipped from the North Sea. The Lagoon imitates a rocky sea bay edged by groups of trees.

The Lagoon was opened in June 1997, the original theming based on a Kwa’kwala native Canadian tribe settlement (house, totem poles around the Lagoon).

August 2009

This type of lagoon exhibit seems to picking up in popularity worldwide, copied by seaworld Orlando, Nuremberg and now it looks as though Duisburg have plans for a similar exhibit.

These lagoons continue the naturalistic, somewhat immersive theme that has gripped many of the truly excellent zoos of the world over the past 30 years. The days of round, bland, boring marine mammal tanks are coming to an end.