If I’m late or I miss the show, what do I do?
Don’t miss it! Unfortunately, we can’t offer refunds, and your ticket is only good for the show time printed on it.
How long does the show last?
Approximately 20–25 minutes.
How soon before the show should I get to the dolphin show theater?
We recommend you arrive at the amphitheater in Pier 4 at least 15 minutes prior to show time.
Will I get wet?
We have a clearly designated "Splash Zone" area, so it’s up to you!
How many dolphins perform in each show?
Typically, two to five dolphins perform in each show.
What are the other dolphins doing in the back?
We have four pools here, and we separate our dolphins for various reasons. Our young calves and their mothers are in the back pools, as are our show dolphins when they’re not performing in a particular show. Our show dolphins need time off to relax, just like human performers!
How many dolphin trainers work here?
We currently have 13 marine mammal trainers. It takes four trainers to put on each show, and 8–11 trainers are needed here every day (including holidays and snow days!) to care for the dolphins.
How do you become a dolphin trainer?
To become a marine mammal trainer, we recommend you get a degree in biology, psychology, or zoology. Additionally, most of our trainers got involved first through internships or volunteer programs, either at the National Aquarium or at other facilities. » Learn more about how to become a marine mammal trainer here.
Is that salt water?
Yes; Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live in salt water, as do all dolphins except for a few rare species of freshwater dolphins. The Aquarium makes its own salt water. The dolphin system holds 1.3 million gallons of seawater.
What do you feed them?
We feed our dolphins restaurant-quality herring and capelin.
Can we touch the dolphins?
Unfortunately, we have too many visitors to give everyone a chance to get up close to our dolphins. If you’d like to have this special opportunity, you can book a Dolphin Encounter Immersion Tour here.
How many dolphins do you have here?
We currently have nine dolphins housed at the National Aquarium, Baltimore. » Read about each dolphin here.
Where do they sleep?
Right here in the pools! Dolphins don’t sleep the same way humans do. Researchers think dolphins rest only one half of their brain at a time, so they’re always partially awake and aware of their surroundings, and can continue to come to the surface to breathe. Sometimes a dolphin will continue to swim slowly around the pool, or sometimes the sleeping dolphin will float at the surface of the water.
How long does it take to train them?
Depending on the behavior, it can take anywhere from a week to a year. Typically, it takes two to three years to fully train a dolphin.
How long do dolphins live?
On average, a bottlenose dolphin is expected to live about 25 years, but they can live much longer. Two of our dolphins are in their 30s!
How do you train the dolphins?
We use positive reinforcement, rewarding the dolphin for performing the behavior. » Read more about how we train our dolphins here.
Where did these dolphins come from?
The National Aquarium opened its marine mammal pavilion in 1990. Six of our nine Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were born in American aquariums, including many born right here at the National Aquarium. Three were collected in the late '70s or early '80s from U.S. waters by other aquariums when the practice was still approved by the U.S. government agencies. Two were transferred from other aquariums to the National Aquarium in the 1990s.
There has been a lot of discussion recently about the inhumane killing of dolphins that occurs during the Japanese drive fisheries, and it has created some confusion: none of our animals were acquired this way—we do not support, fund, or acquire animals from these drives, and neither do any other zoos or aquariums in the U.S. that are accredited, like we are, by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
We are opposed to the inhumane slaughter of dolphins and applaud the creators of "The Cove" for raising public awareness of this terrible practice. Join the National Aquarium and other zoos and aquariums around the U.S. to ACT FOR DOLPHINS and speak out against it. Go to http://www.actfordolphins.org/ and make your voice heard!
