Brookfield guests get up-close view of dolphins

When I was a kid I used to love going to dolphin shows.

Like so many children, I was fascinated by the animals and how graceful they were in the water and air. The trainers who worked with them were my heroes and when they asked for volunteers from the audience to get an up-close look at the dolphins, I always raised my hand immediately, standing up and hoping to be picked.

I finally got my chance last week when I had the opportunity to observe a dolphin named Chinook receive his daily checkup at Brookfield Zoo. While the rest of the zoo's seven dolphins got their inspections, I stood by senior keeper Andy Ferris as he guided me through his routine.

Chinook, a 27-year-old male, arrived at the zoo this spring and is comfortable enough with Ferris that he had no problem letting a stranger pet him while the keeper inspected his skin and eyes. The abundant fish rewards he got for showing off different parts of his body probably helped.

Chinook even seemed to be having fun. He sprayed me with water from his blowhole after spending some time exposing his belly and used his tail to stand in the water so I could hold onto his flippers. Ferris said dolphins are highly social animals and like physical contact on their skin, which feels like a wet inner tube.

At the end of the checkup, Chinook and the rest of the dolphins were dismissed for free time and given a platter of ice cubes and toys to play with. Before long they were leaping around and seemingly having as good a time as I was.

Every weekend visitors age 12 and older can have an even more in-depth experience with the zoo's dolphins, seals and sea lions at the Marine Mammal Program. For $350 to $400, visitors can spend three hours on a behind-the-scenes tour, join a care session and spend time with trainers working on the dolphin show. If you want to bring an extra person with you, their admission is $100 less. The sessions tend to book up months in advance.

Of course if you can't afford to spend that much money for a special experience, families can still see Brookfield's dolphins at the daily shows in the zoo's recently renovated Seven Seas building.

During the winter, shows are performed at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. with a special holiday-themed performance at 6:30 p.m. during Holiday Magic, an activity-packed animated-light display that runs Sunday, Dec. 12; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19; and Sunday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Jan. 1.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the zoo's dolphin program. Brookfield's original Seven Seas building held its first dolphin show in 1961 and brought in more than 11.5 million people before it closed more than 25 years later.

“It was the first time for Midwesterners to see dolphins in their own backyard,” said Rita Stacey, curator of marine mammals. “Back in '61 the reason why there were no dolphins inland was seawater. We were the first to manufacture man-made seawater for dolphins to live in.”

The current show celebrates the zoo's programs through the ages by adding a retro twist with music and tricks that would have been more common decades ago.

“Back in the day, there were more showy and circuslike acts,” Stacey said. “What we do now is showcase their natural abilities and things you would see them doing in the wild.”

Brookfield has a unique perspective on natural behavior because of a program the zoo operates in Sarasota, Fla., that has studied wild dolphin populations for 40 years. The zoo also tries to encourage visitors to think about dolphins in the wild by integrating information into their shows and exhibits.

During shows, guests still get chosen to get up close to the dolphins, play games, toss them a ball or even pet them.

Zoo officials say the goal is to inspire a love and respect for the friendly creatures.

“We feel it's through these special experiences that increased awareness is formed,” Stacey said. “We hope that people take away a better appreciation of the animals.”

Brookfield Zoo

8400 31st St., Brookfield, (708) 688-8000, brookfieldzoo.org

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Admission: Adults 13.50, seniors 65 and over and children 3 to 11 9.50

Parking: 9

Dolphin shows: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily. Special holiday-themed performance at 6:30 p.m. during Holiday Magic on Sunday, Dec. 12; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19; and Sunday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Jan. 1

Dolphin show tickets: Adults $4, seniors and children 3 to 11 2.50