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Zoo Reveals Possible Plan to Replace Dolphins

Photo: Viacheslav Khmelnytskyi, Photos.com

Jul 12, 2012 at 8:16 am

APPLE VALLEY, MN (KNSI) - The Minnesota Zoo may use schools of fish and stingrays to replace its dolphins.

The zoo is deciding how far $4 million in state bonding money will go in renovating its Discovery Bay aquarium. It had asked for $7 million. The zoo decided this spring it would no longer keep dolphins after one died, leaving it with just two.

Zoo officials say they hope there's enough money to make the most critical repairs and introduce new kinds of fish and stingrays. They say while rays aren't dolphins, they're still fantastic representatives of the aquatic environment.

Some lawmakers have criticized the zoo for the way it handled its bonding request. The zoo publicly announced it was getting rid of the dolphins only after it secured the state money.