Onsite Animal Encounters Return at Shedd Aquarium
Come face-to-face with penguins, beluga whales and sharks as extraordinary experiences return onsite
September 13, 2021
Shedd Aquarium is returning some of its onsite Extraordinary Experiences to continue to connect guests with the aquatic animal world. Participants will have a unique opportunity to come face-to-face with penguins, beluga whales, or sharks during these animal encounters. Discover unbelievable animal adaptations, learn what it takes to care for these animals, ask questions to experts, make lasting memories, and more during Shedd’s Extraordinary Experiences. Admission to the aquarium is included with these experiences.
Participants will pull on waders to enter the private Grainger Beluga Encounter Habitat. Standing side-by-side with a trainer on an underwater ledge, guests will be face to face with a whale, try a few training techniques and enjoy some surprises.
- Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:45 a.m. (select dates also have a 1:45 p.m. session) starting Oct. 2021
- Cost: Per person $200 a person/Members $170
Participants will come face-to-face with the ocean’s most dynamic and misunderstood predators – sharks. Dive deeper into Wild Reef by venturing behind-the-scenes of the 400,000-gallon shark habitat, and experience mealtime with the sharks to discover what it takes to feed and care for these animals. During the Shark Feeding Tour, guests venture while delving into sharks’ role in their ecosystem. Learn first-hand how aquarists prepare meals of restaurant-quality seafood and how various shark and ray species in Wild Reef has been trained to respond to a signal for mealtime.
- Dates: Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. starting Oct. 2021
- Cost: Adults (12+) $94.95/Children $84.95/Members $50
Meet one of Shedd’s penguins! During this Extraordinary Experience, guests will see the penguin explore, preen, play with toys, perch and gulp fish. Learn first-hand from the animal care team about the penguin’s history, what it takes to care for them, and how the aquarium protects them in the wild with conservation work. Get close enough to touch their sleek, slick feathers and get a photo with the penguin to share.
- Dates: Select dates at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. available now
- Cost: Adults (12+) $94.95/Children $84.95/ Members $50
VISUALS: High-resolution images and b-roll are available to download: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8e6c638e616274a6a4a9.
Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium