Dolphins in… Chicago?

I know it seems this way, but I don’t just love sharks. I cherish all creatures that live in water – after all it all started for me in the lakes and streams of Wisconsin with turtles, salamanders, frogs and blue gills.

I have run into some pretty strange animals and fish in some pretty strange places. But, who would have guessed I would meet a pod of Dolphins in Chicago of all places?


I have always loved dolphins. And this month on the Underwater Channel, I got another good dose of these charismatic mammals. After swimming with the Indian Ocean version of Common Bottlenose dolphins in Aliwal, I was able to reconnect with some friends in the states to examine a real controversy: marine animals in captivity.

It was a bi-coastal episode, as I headed to Brookfield Zoo, one of the nation’s oldest Oceanariums to learn more about their dolphins and their research program. Then, I headed to Sarasota to meet with Dr. Randall Wells, who is leading the world’s longest dolphin research program – now in its 38th year.

I grew up in Chicago, coming to Brookfield Zoo, one of the nation’s largest and oldest zoos. And, while I loved all the animals big and small, the dolphins were my favorite. (Please don’t tell the sharks.)

But, I have always been torn on animals in captivity – especially large marine apex predators like dolphins, whales, turtles, sharks, and rays. I love seeing them in their own environment and wish they could all be free in the oceans. Unfortunately, people only care about what they see and experience – and most people do not see what dwells within our seas. Out of site out of mind. So, for the educational and awareness purposes, I support their captivity as long as it is responsible, the animals are well cared for and not at risk, and it is for purpose.

Having certain animals in captivity as long as they can remain healthy (I am in strong opposition to keeping animals like whale sharks or white sharks) provides the public with the ability to experience the sea. Having dolphins in places like Brookfield allows people who would not otherwise have an opportunity to do so, to learn more about these incredible creatures, gain an appreciation for them, and hopefully, make a few more people want to do something to ensure these amazing animals survive.

Sadly, while dolphins were protected in 1972 by the marine mammal laws here in the US, and throughout the world, they are still threatened. Many die each year as unintentional bycatch, from habitat destruction, from pollution, from interaction with fisherman and fishing gear, and also from human interactions.

2 million people visit these dolphins each year. They are definitely the ambassadors for ocean conservation here at the zoo, and worldwide.


At the zoo, I caught up with the lead curator of the dolphin exhibit as well as my friend Dr. Stuart Strahl, the CEO of the zoo. We had long discussions about the approach to captivity as well as the critical role they play in research as well, furthering my knowledge on the subject. And, I got a behind the scenes tour which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here are a few myths that were quickly shattered:

Zoos and aquariums capture dolphins from the wild. FALSE. All of the dolphins at Brookfield have been raised in captivity. In fact, they are leading an 8 institution consortium managing the breeding to ensure all dolphins in captivity are bred in captivity – while maintaining strong genetic histories.

There is no benefit to having dolphins in captivity. FALSE. The studies and work undertaken by trainers and researchers in zoos and aquariums and by scientists in the wild feed one another can be tied directly to the conservation of wild marine mammals. The dolphins at Brookfield Zoo serve as a baseline, controlled population that the dolphins in the wild can be compared against.

Dolphin shows are just circus acts. FALSE. The responsible zoos and aquariums teach dolphins behaviors and actions to help with their care – and keep them busy. Dolphins love to learn and desire constant stimulation. And, Brookfield does not support the rogue efforts to capture dolphins to allow the public to swim with them.


After visiting Brookfield, I headed down to Sarasota and Mote to meet with Dr. Randall Wells and learn more about the common bottlenose dolphin and the last few years of his research.

You see, my attachment to dolphins grew even stronger when, a few years ago, I participated in a study with Dr. Randall Wells in the field on the longest running dolphin research study in history. Going on its 38th year, the program has studied four generation of dolphins in Sarasota Bay. As part of Dr. Wells' team, I assisted in the collection of samples from wild dolphins. It was amazing to see Dr. Wells team in action. We literally captured wild dolphins and then quickly and with very little impact were able to perform the necessary tests

A collaborative effort between the Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) and Mote Marine Laboratory, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program allows Dr. Wells and his staff – including volunteer interns to study the biology, behavior, health, physiology, and ecology of bottlenose dolphins, as well as human impacts on them.

And it is no small task. They have documented the movements of more than 120 dolphins in a 40-square-mile area of Sarasota Bay. They have discovered the social organization of dolphin groups based on sex, age, and reproductive condition and have been able to establish family trees through observations and blood analysis of these dolphins.

Field research in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and other locations, has offered a substantial body of information to those who protect dolphins in the wild and care for them in zoos and aquariums.

The common bottlenose dolphins of Sarasota Bay have adapted to sharing their waters with other boaters, fisherman and jet skiers. It is amazing to see them appear in the Bay as you are coming and going, just enjoying the beautiful water – or trying to get a free meal.

I love seeing the dolphins when I am Florida and know that their presence here in Sarasota Bay is leading to better knowledge, understanding and conservation of dolphins throughout the world – in large part due to Dr. Wells and the Brookfield Zoological Society. And that the dolphins in captivity in Chicago are playing a very critical role in that as well.

Go Big

It is a phrase I love. If you do anything… do it big. Don’t hold back. My friend Roger always uses it, and I think it has become my new mantra. I thought of it today when I got a note from him asking if I wanted to be in a piece (on shark conservation) for German Playboy. But he, and that, are stories for another day.

Fearless is often a word used to describe me. Which actually surprised me in the beginning, because I am afraid of a lot. But, I have come to realize that it is not used to describe me because I dive with sharks, am not terrified of bugs (well ok, maybe those ones with pinchers on their butts just a little), or love snakes. I think it is used because I go big. I approach just about everything in life with enthusiasm and what may be considered by some to be irrational exuberance. But, I prefer to call it a passion for life. I don’t let anything stop me… I crazily will do and try just about anything. I am totally obsessed and try to become great at everything I do, throwing myself completely into whatever the task at hand is. I am irreverent. I love excitement and a little bit of dare.

And, so I guess that is fearless.

Today, after spending three days with my father in Sarasota, watching this 62 year old man whipping around, weaving in and out of the wake on his slalom waterski like a 20 year old, drag-racing cigarette boats with our supercharged waverunner and leaving them in the dust as I clung on for dear life, and laughing hysterically as he almost sank the jetski jumping eight foot waves in Sarasota Bay, I realized where I get it from. (I must admit, I was laughing too… there is nothing better than that moment of “Oh Sh*t. When the heck are we going to land?!?” followed by the rewarding plunge and wall of water once you hit.) And, my heart smiled as I was reminded once again how crazy I am for my dad.

So the Andersen gene is a fearless one. My brother Bruce is a race car driver who is also an instructor for Lotus. My father, well, he is a race car driver, sailor, diver, world-traveler, you name it. Now he wants to windsurf too. My poor mom. Fortunately, what I do is statistically the least dangerous, so I am the focus of the least amount of attention. You should see her friends' eyes widen when she talks about her kids… then they share their condolences.

My dad is the one who taught me how to dive. After he got certified, within a year’s time, my whole family got certified (first me, then my brother, then my mom.) It became a way for an adult family to share something special, and we traveled the world together – Belize, Thailand, Burma, Hawaii, Tahiti – exploring the ocean. I still try to go on at least one trip a year with my dad - it has become a special way for us to spend time together. The last time we went on a trip together, it was to Cocos Island. Magical.

I am in Sarasota to spend some serious quality time with Dad, who I never get to see. He works in Florida so it isn’t often that we get this kind of luxury. We spent the weekend playing on the water, with me completely obsessed on conquering something I have had at the top of my list of things I am desperate to accomplish - since I was eight years old and saw my cousins excel at it… Yes, I have always wanted to slalom waterski. So, I spent the weekend tirelessly smacking the living daylights out of myself smashing into the water time and time again until I FINALLY DID IT. And, now, I am totally rocking it outside the wake, cutting in and out, jumping waves, GOING BIG. Though I feel like I have been put thru a meat grinder, I am riding high as I add Slalom Waterskier proudly to my resume. Take that cousin Beth and Jeannie!

And when Dad got the skiing rope sucked up into the waverunner (note HE did it, not ME), I had the chance to conquer my biggest fear IN THE WORLD. I had to touch a muddy, slimy seaweed-y bottom with my bare feet. Yes, this Shark Angel is terrified of murky, oozy mud and creepy crawly grass on bottoms you just can't see as they wrap sinisterly around your ankles. I have NEVER been able to touch that stuff - it is the stuff my nightmares are made of. Dad had absolutely no patience for my girl-y squeals and what bordered on a panic attack, snarling "This from a girl who dives with sharks."

After a large piece of seaweed entwined itself all the way up to my knee like some sort of evil creature pulling me deep into the mud probably to tear me limb from limb as I suffocate in the slime, I scrambled back onto the Waverunner and told Dad to call Sea Tow. There is NO WAY I am going that big.

Well, I guess this Shark Girl isn't completely fearless.

Feeding a Predator... Does it Turn Us Into Prey?

This cute little guy is a Black-Crowned Night Heron. He is a predator that eats fish, hunting all day long.

This particular heron is my buddy. He spends his days waiting for a hand-out at the boat launch near Mote Marine, frequented by fisherman who will give him a bit of their catch. (I must say his cute little eyes are hard to say no to.) I constantly see people feed him – in fact I saw someone throw him a fish half his size today.

He has definitely become accustomed to people in that he is not afraid to be near them, as he sits on the docks evaluating each boat to determine if they may be his next meal ticket. He is very smart, and knows exactly who has fish for him. He never gets too close nor does he view the fisherman for anything other than what they are: easy suppliers of food.

Oddly, though, no one is afraid that feeding this Heron is going to make him more likely to senselessly attack them, voraciously addicted to the food that they give to him. It is unfathomable that this bird, who is being fed fish on a daily basis by fisherman, could or would possibly put the same fisherman on his menu. Or attack them confusing the fishermen for his real food source – fish.

So why on earth do we think sharks, who are far more intelligent than this heron and, like this heron, do not have us on their menu, would?

It makes absolutely no sense.