Liko, an 8-year-old male bottlenose dolphin, becomes acquainted with his new home at the Texas State Aquarium, along with his companion Schooner. Courtesy photo
Liko and Schooner joined Shadow and Kai to bring the total population of dolphins at the Texas State Aquarium to four. The two new male Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were both born at SeaWorld Orlando and are eight years old.
“We’re excited to welcome Liko and Schooner to our Aquarium family,” said Aquarium president and CEO Tom Schmid. “Their presence will create new, socially-enriching opportunities for Kai and Shadow.”
The aquarium’s daily dolphin shows will be replaced with Trainer Chats as the four dolphins spend time getting acquainted.
The familiarization process begins with the two new additions placed in proximity of the old timers, but not in the same tanks. The dolphins will be able to hear and see each other before being formally introduced.
Liko and Schooner will get to know their trainers and become accustomed to their new home over the next few weeks. Then the Marine Mammal staff will access how relations between the animals are progressing before implementing an introduction plan, explained a press release about the newcomers.
The aquarium worked over the last 12 months with its dolphin facility partners within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find just the right pair to represent the facility.
“Our dolphins are tremendous ambassadors for marine wildlife,” Schmid said. “ [They create] connections with our guests that allow us to educate and inspire hundreds of thousands of people every year about the importance of protecting and conserving marine wildlife and our oceans.”
