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As I once said, every day is different in Discovery Bay. I wrote in the last installment that April just “wasn’t that into” Semo. The very next day, there was a dramatic change in her attitude.
Semo began to focus all of his attention on April and she in turn responded. We found April and Semo swimming together and noticed both courtship and breeding behavior. As I begin this next installment after a week has passed, April is less interested but Semo is still fascinated with her and wants to spend every training session right next to her. He now splits his time between swimming with Allie and continuing to woo April. 
Speaking of training sessions, we made some progress last week with working the dolphins together in the front pool but everyday made for new adjustments. Sometimes we were able to work all four in the pool together and were able to lengthen sessions, other times we would work just one or two dolphins in the main pool because the other two dolphins were just too distracted. Allie appeared to be quite content by herself in the front pool as she worked on her high-energy behaviors. During other sessions, we found Semo and Spree in the front pool doing behaviors together as they used to.
I think it’s safe to say I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but that’s what makes this job so much fun!
-Jenny, marine mammal trainer
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It may be cold outside, but there is definitely a little spring fever going on in Discovery Bay! Semo was in the news recently because he has been so distracted by Allie that we have had to continue canceling shows. The story of his affection even made national news!
The trainers couldn't be happier for Semo. We have often been in awe of him and his somewhat boundless energy when it comes to the dolphin shows, and now, all that energy is being channeled to woo and court Allie. So where does that leave April? Right now it appears that she is not so smitten with Semo. We have seen him swim into a pool where April is and watch her swim right out into a different pool. Maybe at some point she'll change her mind, but right now, she's just not that into him.
By the end of last week, we were able to work with all four dolphins in the pool again. Semo, however, had a difficult time concentrating on his trainers. Every now and again he would stop looking at his trainer so he could look at Allie. Sometimes all the attention was a little too much for Allie: she decided a few times in the middle of training sessions to leave and go into another pool. Unfortunately, what usually happened is that Semo would follow her! 
Spree is still cautiously interested in her new pool mates. Often she has been seen swimming solo (away from all the chasing and splashing going on in the other pools) and peeking occasionally through the channels to watch.
We continue to work with the dolphins on lengthening their training sessions and working together on their behaviors. They seem to do well, but Semo has a very short attention span and so training sessions seem to be running a little short. This behavior wasn't unexpected – it’s just something that the trainers have to work with rather than against when it comes to sessions. I think the trainers all agree that its nice, once again, to have spring in the air in Discovery Bay.
-Jenny, marine mammal trainer
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People often ask me what my favorite part of being a marine mammal trainer is. I often tell them that my job is exciting because it changes every day. That was definitely the case in Discovery Bay this past week.
Semo spent the past week chasing April & Allie. We often saw him trying to catch their attention in many different ways, including throwing toys into the air as he jumped. What a show-off! He is also whistling and vocalizing to the females. Allie seems to be very interested in Semo and is often seem swimming right by him to catch his eye!
It seems Allie might have an interest in being the dominant female in the pool. It is not unusual for an older animal to “pass the torch” to a younger animal and that seems to be what April and Allie are working out. Young Spree is watching all of the social interactions between the adults and is learning a lot! She is, however, often watching from another pool. She is very comfortable keeping a safe distance from all the social interactions between the adult dolphins.
We have spent the week trying to get all four dolphins comfortable together in the front pool during training sessions. During the first few days, the dolphins “snuck away” to the other pool and it seemed like we weren’t making any progress. However, toward the end of the week we were able to get the three females to work together in the front pool for a significant length of time. We then slowly introduced Semo to the mix and were able to work all dolphins together in the front pool for a very short amount of time–just a behavior or two. It was a great step in the right direction!
We appreciate your patience as we continue the dolphin acclimation process, where each day is a new adventure.
-Jenny, marine mammal trainer
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Semo has been introduced to his new pool mates! As we expected, there was a lot of chasing going on. Male dolphins often like to assert their dominance by jaw clapping and chasing the other dolphins whether they are male or female. Semo is an older animal, so his chasing bouts didn’t last too long. He took a few rest breaks and then started again. This went on for about a day, and then the dolphins got used to each other.
Spree, being a much younger dolphin, has not observed this type of introduction before. Initially, she watched the interactions between Semo and the females but as time progressed it became difficult for her to figure out where she fit in to this new group, which was to be expected. Whenever there is a new introduction to the group, even if it is a familiar dolphin, there are often social adjustments that need to be made. Spree is adjusting by hanging out in a different pool then the other dolphins and will probably follow the same path that she did when she met the females. She will slowly introduce herself to them on her own terms, and our job as trainers is to help her do this.
Some of you may have noticed that we cancelled shows for a few days. We thought it was best to focus on working with Spree and getting her comfortable with what was going on. It is a lot for a little dolphin to take in! She, in her own true style, is rising to the special attention given to her in her training. Right now, the adult dolphins are working well together and doing behaviors together in the same pool.
What we will be working on in the coming week is to help Spree become part of that group. How long it will take is up to Spree. As always, patience is a very important part of dolphin training. We hope that you have enjoyed getting a chance to see April and Allie swimming in the pools with Semo and thank you again for your patience while we work on the social aspect of our introductions.
-Jenny, Marine Mammal Trainer
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There were many exciting new experiences for April and Allie this past week. The trainers have been working with both of them (and Spree) to do their behaviors together and we have seen many–across the water surface and even in the air!
Allie is the more athletic of the two new females. We have been working with her on her jumps and tail walks in the presentation pool. April did her first jump at the Zoo on Saturday in the presentation pool with Allie. April only jumps with Allie and they did a great job of jumping in the air together at the same time. Things were going so well that later Spree did the same jump–with them! It was wonderful to see all three female dolphins jumping in the air together!
The new females had an audience for the first time here at the Zoo. April didn’t seem to be fazed by all the clapping but it took Allie a little longer to get used to it. They both seemed to enjoy looking through the windows at the guests, and we think Allie was even looking at all of the fish nearby in the shark tank! They even had their first slumber party at the Zoo during Friday night’s “Dolphins Dark to Dawn.”
We are often asked if April and Allie will be learning new behaviors. Since they are in a new environment, it takes a little while to get oriented and comfortable to do the behaviors they already know how to do. We are getting everyone used to where they need to be in the pool, working together and trying to lengthen the duration of our sessions. Thank you for your patience during our presentations as we set out to accomplish our goals!
-Jenny, Marine Mammal Trainer
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Great news from Discovery Bay!
April and Allie have not only passed their health check-ups, but have moved into the main presentation pool! It is a brand new place for them and they are spending a great deal of time investigating the pool and getting used to their new surroundings.
Watch a training session.
Where are Spree and Semo?
Spree has access to the front pool from her main area; it seems she likes to give April and Allie their space and will come out and swim when she feels comfortable. It is not uncommon for younger dolphins to defer to the older dolphins and that is what Spree is doing. As Allie and April get more comfortable in the big pool, Spree will too, and she will experiment and venture out when the time is right.
Semo is in one of the back pools right now. He is going to be very interested in meeting his new pool mates and there will be a lot of chasing and playing going on once everyone is together. We want to give April and Allie a chance to get comfortable in their new pool before introducing them to Semo.
Have the dolphin presentations changed?
Dolphin presentations are going to be a little different for the time being. April and Allie are becoming familiar with where they should be for their feeds, and are being reintroduced to their behaviors. Expect lots of stopping and starting for awhile. It will give everyone a great opportunity to see April and Allie, and for them to get a chance to see you! We appreciate your patience while we work on bringing our pod together!
-Jenny, Marine Mammal Trainer
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It has been a busy week! The Zoo’s new dolphins, Allie and April, have been introduced to a few of their trainers–and the trainers have been busy getting to know both of them.
Here at the Zoo, dolphins learn behaviors by hand signals. Hand signals vary; for example, Semo and Spree’s signals are different than April and Allie’s. This is normal, and it just takes a little time on the trainer’s part to learn them. The most important part is for the trainers to form a relationship with the new dolphins. The trainers love working with April and Allie!
The most exciting news is that Spree, our five-year-old female dolphin, was introduced to Allie and April early in the week. Spree was a little nervous at first, since April is the dominant female dolphin. April lets the other female dolphins know that she’s “in control” by tail lobbing and “jaw clapping,” or clamping her jaw shut with a loud popping sound. This is just the way dolphins communicate. April is still dominant, but Spree is getting used to this and the two have started doing training sessions in the same pool together which is very exciting! 
Our new dolphins (and trainers!) have made great progress this week. Check back again next week for more developments with April and Allie.
-Jenny, Marine Mammal Trainer
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I spent the beginning of January in sunny Florida, meeting April and Allie, the Minnesota Zoo’s two new female dolphins. During this time, I became familiar with both animals, learned all about their training and behaviors, and worked closely with their trainers.
Transporting the dolphins from Florida to Minnesota went smoothly. April and Allie rested inside carriers that were filled with water throughout their plane ride. The pilots of the cargo plane were very interested in the dolphins and took great care to take off and land carefully. It was very cold in Minnesota, so we kept April and Allie covered with towels during the short move from the plane to the airplane hanger, and then to the heated semi-truck that helped deliver them to the Zoo. Once in the water, April and Allie popped right up to eat, which was wonderful! We had dolphin trainers at the Zoo overnight to make sure that they were adjusting well to their new home. 
April and Allie are separated right now from the Zoo’s resident dolphins, Semo and Spree, so we can make sure the new dolphins are getting acclimated and eating well. Semo and Spree played it cool at first, not knowing who their new pool mates were. Soon enough, Semo, our adult male dolphin, realized that the new dolphins were female, and since then, he spends most of his time looking at them through the gate or showing off with tail lobs and breaches.
Check back next week to read a little bit more about our two new dolphins!
-Jenny, marine mammal trainer
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