Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium

birdsandbats said:
Oof, Shedd does not have the room for more sea lions. o_O
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Yeah, I'm not quite sure what they plan to do with those two. I'll try and keep up with any news regarding them. I'll most likely be visiting later this year, so I may be able to get some info on them during my trip.
 
Other 2022 News:

On February 26th, the aquarium announced that a (1.0) northern sea otter named Yaku passed away at age 21 due to a decline in health caused by an inoperable tumor in his chest.

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On June 7th, the aquarium announced that they acquired a (0.1) green anaconda which is now on exhibit.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/913657903364228/?s=single_unit

On July 1st, it was reported that the Chicago Plan Commission approved the aquarium's lakefront protection application for their Centennial Commitment on June 16th.

Chicago Plan Commission has endorsed Shedd Aquarium’s Centennial Commitment | InPark Magazine

On July 2nd, the aquarium announced new research into the aquarium's famous (1.0) Australian lungfish named Grandadd was 109 years old when he passed away in 2017, which revised the life expectancy of Australian lungfish as a whole, from 79 years to 100+ years. This makes the lungfish a centenarian species and the world's longest-living freshwater subtropical fish species.

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https://www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/press-releases/granddad-age-revealed/

On July 21st, the aquarium announced that (0.0.5+) striped surfperch were born which are now on exhibit.

Also on July 21st, the aquarium announced that they (along with the Forest Preserves of Cook County) released (0.0.11) Blanding's turtles into the wild.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3279143552354811/?s=single_unit
https://www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/press-releases/fpcc-blandings-release

On August 9th, the aquarium announced they acquired (0.2) southern rockhopper penguins named Tussock and Pinguino from the New England Aquarium in Massachusets which are now on exhibit.

Welcoming two new rockhopper penguins, Tussock and Pinguino | Two new birds hopped into our colony this summer! Join us in welcoming: 15-year-old Tussock 13-year-old Pinguino These female southern... | By Shedd Aquarium | Facebook
Penguin population at the Shedd Aquarium has gone up

On October 1st, the aquarium announced the name of the (1.0) California sea lion pup that arrived recently, Kenny.

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Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Frustrating considering the quality of their other marine animal habitats.
 
Grant said:
It's incredibly small in addition to being entirely indoors. They have several off-exhibit pools but they're not much better than the exhibit pool.
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To be fair, they *do* take the sea lions out for presentations. That said, the pool itself is... not great. I'd rather see pelicans or a tank for mussels in that space instead.
 
I wish they’d just replace the show tank with a sea lion enclosure if they really want to keep pinnipeds. The current pool is embarrassing. Literally less than half the size of the otter exhibit.
 
Before they obtained this new pair, their only sea lion was a bind individual who had trouble swimming. The exhibit was perfectly fine for this one individual (especially considering he gets to stretch his flippers) during the presentations) but in any other context it is not good.
Persephone said:
I wish they’d just replace the show tank with a sea lion enclosure if they really want to keep pinnipeds. The current pool is embarrassing. Literally less than half the size of the otter exhibit.
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I don't know that the cetaceans would be happy with most of their pools gone.
 
birdsandbats said:
Before they obtained this new pair, their only sea lion was a bind individual who had trouble swimming. The exhibit was perfectly fine for this one individual (especially considering he gets to stretch his flippers) during the presentations) but in any other context it is not good.

I don't know that the cetaceans would be happy with most of their pools gone.
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Could they mix the sea lions and belugas? I think Georgia Aquarium has a harbor seal / beluga mix. But seals have always seemed more agreeable to me. No idea if that’s actually true though.
 
Persephone said:
I wish they’d just replace the show tank with a sea lion enclosure if they really want to keep pinnipeds. The current pool is embarrassing. Literally less than half the size of the otter exhibit.
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I would prefer they actually build an indoor/outdoor addition for California Sea Lions and not take up any cetacean space. The Shedd used to have harbor seals in the area where the sea lions are now, and they would sometimes be with the belugas. Seals can be integrated into beluga exhibits over time, I have not seen or heard of sea lion and beluga being housed together. Beluga are actually fairly timid/easily scared by nature, and the activity level of the sea lions may be a bit much.
 
Did Laguna and Cruz die or get relocated?

Website suggests they still had three before this transfer, am I missing something?
 
The on-exhibit sea lion pool is probably the most disappointing exhibit in the entire facility but the off-exhibit areas have generally looked more spacious to me. I know there was a conversion in more recent years, seen here of an existing space to serve as more off-exhibit sea lion space.

I think new pinniped exhibits are the smartest possible change the facility could make right now, something crowdpleasing but also that would feel fresh in a way that a new reef does not.
 
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