Ice cubes and blocks filled with herring, capelin, and horse mackerel are helping the park's nine dolphins cope with their fourth heat wave. Each individual, however, has developed a different strategy to secure their favorite morsel.
With the fourth heatwave of the summer, even dolphins are seeking some relief. At Zoomarine, however, there are no fruit granitas or traditional ice creams: the menu features special ice cakes filled with herring, horse mackerel, capelin, and other seafood delicacies.
A decidedly unusual snack for humans, but irresistible for the nine dolphins housed in the park, which constitute the largest social group in Italy.
The underwater footage shows a veritable assault on the buffet. Some drag the cake to the bottom of the tank, others break it into tiny pieces, and others prefer to collaborate, or compete, with the other members of the group to retrieve every last fish trapped in the ice.
An iced buffet to combat the heat
Ice cakes are part of daily enrichment activities organized to stimulate the dolphins both physically and mentally.
So, they're not just a tasty way to deal with the summer heat. The frozen blocks encourage animals to explore, play, manipulate objects, and interact with other members of the group.
In addition to the refreshment provided by ice cubes and popsicles, the water in the tanks is constantly monitored. The seven and a half million liters of saltwater never exceed 28 degrees Celsius, remaining within the ideal range for the species' well-being, between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius.
Paco and Leah seek tranquility
Each dolphin approaches the frozen buffet differently, revealing its character, habits, and position within the group.
Paco and Leah, for example, prefer to stay away from the other fish, especially the younger ones, when they receive ice cubes and popsicles. They seek a quiet corner of the tank where they can manipulate the ice and enjoy the fish without too much interference.
Luna and Maya, on the other hand, adopt a more frantic tactic: they try to conquer as many cakes as possible by moving quickly from one block to another.
Indy finishes his and aims for Zeus's
Indy seems to be the most enterprising. After quickly finishing his own cake, he heads over to Zeus's and tries his share.
Zeus, with a more peaceful disposition, apparently doesn't make a fuss about it and lets his more exuberant companion do the rest. Thai, on the other hand, has developed a particular fondness for small cubes, which he tries to scoop up in his mouth.
In practice, in the group there are those who want to eat in peace, those who run from one cake to another and those who, after cleaning their own plate, immediately check the neighbor's.
"The nine dolphins housed at Zoomarine live within a complex social group," explains Andrea Velluti, marine mammal keeper. Play and environmental enrichment thus become important opportunities to observe and manage relationships, roles, and hierarchies.
The menu changes with the seasons
The diet is also adapted to the time of year and climatic conditions.
During the warm season, preference is given to fish particularly prized by dolphins, such as herring, sprat, capelin, blue whiting, and horse mackerel. In the colder months, mackerel is also introduced, providing a higher energy intake.
"Diet composition is another precaution we take in the event of exceptional temperatures, which unfortunately are increasingly frequent," Velluti emphasizes.
The ice cakes thus combine nutrition and environmental enrichment: to reach the fish, the dolphins must explore the block, break it, move it, and find the most effective strategy. The final reward, evidently, is worth all the effort.
Heat also threatens dolphins in the wild
Behind the cute images of dolphins munching on fish-flavored cakes and popsicles, however, lies a very serious problem: the progressive warming of the seas.
The bottlenose dolphin is considered one of the most cosmopolitan of dolphins and possesses an extraordinary capacity for adaptation. For this reason, it is classified as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Their ability to adapt, however, does not make them immune to the consequences of environmental change. In our seas, dolphins must contend with rising temperatures, increasing pressure from human activities, declining fish stocks, pollution, and the risk of accidental entanglement in fishing gear.
Meanwhile, at Zoomarine, the battle against the heat continues with ice cubes and frozen cakes . And if Indy finishes his portion too quickly again, Zeus would do well to keep an eye on his dessert.
