Lithuania Delfinarium Sea Museum Klaipeda

AQUARIUM
The exposition of the aquarium invites to a journey that starts from a stream, a lake in Lithuania continuing through the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to tropical seas - such is the sequence of aquariums in various forms containing around 100 species of fish of warm seas, 60 species of freshwater fish and spineless animals.
The aquariums, including the largest, even 50 t in capacity - present four ecosystems: freshwater, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and tropical seas. These are rare cases when aquariums can demonstrate such a complex display of ecosystems because usually visitors have an opportunity to watch fish of one particular ecosystem. Here, an opportunity to see an enlarged close-up view of animals and even to watch the life in the aquarium from… the inside is also possible. Underneath of one of the aquariums, there is a special niche for putting one’s head into a spherical cavity and take a look into eyes of the fish around. No doubt, the aquarium is very proud of the acrylic tunnel where we can watch the archaic sturgeons.
THE GROUND OF OLD SHIPING VESELS
Ships, the largest exhibits of the Lithuanian Sea Museum, are displayed on the grounds of old fishing vessels. Exposition The long voyage is arranged in the medium trawler Dubingiai.
Dubingiai weighs as much as 330 tons! This marine giant was built in Klaipėda shipyard "Baltija" in 1961 and soon after became famous for its outstanding catches. In 1972, the trawler established the record - as much as 30 tons of fish were caught during a voyage. Dubingiai was transferred to the grounds of old fishing vessels in 1986.
The ground also accommodate the steel trawler PTB-7176 and the small trawler Kolyma (a Type 90 small trawler). The largest exhibits remind us what vessels were used for fishing at sea and in the lagoon.
DOLPHINARIUM
On 21 September 1993, the dolphins arrived in Klaipėda. They were transported by a plane and specifically equipped trucks to bring them to the dolphinarium. The dolphinarium was opened at the end of April 1994. Presently, it is the venue for the shows of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Since 2003, dolphin-assisted therapy sessions are being arranged there. In 2010-2013, during the reconstruction of the dolphinarium, the dolphins were taken to Greece and returned to three-time larger pools.
The animals are on the World Endangered Species List. Until the mid-20th century, these dolphins were hunted: for example, for the use of their skin in producing waterproof clothing for fishermen, while their meat was used for food. At present, the population of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins is growing again, but they still face many risks: they drown entangled in fishermen’s nets and suffer from pollution.
These species are quite talkative: they emit a variety of sounds, from whistling to pattering or twittering. Not all sounds are audible to the human ear - ultra-high-frequency sounds are used for echolocation so that dolphins could estimate the distance to different objects, their size and speed when underwater. In that way, they also search for fish and find members of their group.
They are highly social and care for weaker or injured members of their group. Stories about dolphins helping injured divers and bringing them to the surface are well known.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus ponticus) live in the Dolphinarium of the Lithuanian Sea Museum. The dolphin belongs to the class of mammals, the suborder of toothed whales. The species representing this suborder can mostly be found in the Black Sea.
The Black Sea bottlenose dolphins give birth to their young every four years; the pregnancy period lasts 12 months. Females give birth to their first calve at the age of seven or eight. Newborn bottlenose dolphins weigh from 11 to 12 kg and nurse from their mother. A grown-up dolphin weighs from 150 to 280 kg and very rarely - up to 360 kg.
Dolphins performances are entertaining educational events that help people get to know these outstanding animals and encourage them to protect and cherish their natural environment, i.e. the sea.
CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS LIVES TOGETHER WITH THE DOLPHINS
The California sea lions abound on the Pacific coast near the shores of California and Mexico. They love to socialise, so they often gather into numerous colonies in which a wide range of sounds can be heard, ranging from barking and growling to a lion’s roaring.
The sea lions have a diet of various fish and squid. Once they have set off on a hunt, they can spend up to 30 hours. When they see delicious food, they can hurry at the speed of up to 40 km/h, dive about 200 m deep and stay under the water for around 10 minutes. California sea lions have been living at the Lithuanian Sea Museum since 1996.