Baltimore (March 4, 2004) – What kind of games do you play with a 300-pound three-year old? Play!, the new dolphin show at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, answers that question while bringing visitors into the dolphins’ world of learning, interaction and activity. Debuting Friday, April 2nd, visitors to this new and interactive show will learn about dolphins and their environment, participate in a wild game of catch and may even get soaked by a fluke fling!
With a fast-paced tempo and increased level of interaction between audience, trainers and dolphins, this show is active and participatory. The audience will be able to select dolphins’ behaviors, and a fun new feature even allows an audience volunteer to join the dolphin trainers as a “trainer-in-training.”
Why Play? Like many animals - and humans - young dolphins play to develop the skills to become successful adults. And throughout adulthood, play helps them explore their environment, search for food, attract mates, raise babies and avoid predators. At the Aquarium, the playful leaping, splashing and tumbling dolphins develop their skills, build their relationships with trainers and just have fun.
To keep the environment stimulating, the trainers also create special activities and provide toys for the dolphins that are both interesting and safe. And since 300-pound three year olds can be very rough on their toys, Aquarium staff frequently create new games - they may place fish in a ball for the dolphins to find or put objects in the pools for them to push. A balance of floating versus sinking objects gives the dolphins fun play options. Play! explores this dolphin world and reminds us of the importance of play in our lives.
Come out to Play! beginning Friday, April 2nd. Play! is included in the Aquarium’s admission price and is presented by Bank One, with additional support by Hyatt Regency Baltimore, WBAL-TV and ESPN Zone. For more information about dolphin show times, and to buy tickets for the Aquarium, call 410-576-3800 or visit the Aquarium’s Web site, www.aqua.org.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, a non-profit organization, is Baltimore’s leading attraction, hosting more than 1.6 million visitors per year. The Aquarium’s mission is to connect people with aquatic life in order to create a better world for both. It is dedicated to education and conservation through more than a dozen programs that serve the environment and the community.
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