The
dolphinarium was constructed for seven months, with architect Simeon Saraliev
in charge of operations. The building is a light
aerial construction in the form of glass cube with measures 30x30 metres
and height 14 metres, and was open for visitors on August 19th 1984. Stairways
connect the lobbies and the audience hall with its 1200 seats capacity.
In the middle is the main pool for performances with 6 metres in diameter
and 3 metres in depth and additional smaller pool. The water needed for
the pools is brought from distance 80 metres in sea through a special duct
and pumping installation. It circulates constantly through a system of
filters, while the desinfection and purification are automatic. The total
volume of water in both pools is 1200 cubic metres, every twenty-four hours
about 100 cubic metres being purified. The installations, including dosing,
filtering and ventilation devices, are under the audience hall. It is an
amusing fact that all the pools and installations were constructed after
the main holding structure.
The
same month Varna meets its first dolphins Pipi, Popi, Reina and Split.
They all are Tursiops truncatus and were caught in Guatemalan waters.
Later new dolphins were brought and some were born in the dolphinarium.
Now Pipi, Doli, Kimbo and Yoana take part in the performances, even though
Pipi is in her 30s now and appearing rarely. In 2001 is Yoana’s debut –
she and Presi were born here. The performances start with 3 to 4 a day,
later increased to 6 a day. Since 1990 they are 3 a day, because of the
dolphins overture risk. The first coach of our dolphins was the German
Peter Bozeneker.
The
dolphins have a six days “working” week, Monday being their relaxation
day. This schedule has never been changed. They receive their daily food
at 5 or 6 portions, only during training and performances. Their menu contains
of 8-10 kg perch pike, sprat, sardines, and their favorite delicates –
the herring. The trainings include old elements of the performances,
as well as new techniques. The visitors enjoy most of all when dolphins
walk on their tails over the water, catch fish from the coach’s mouth,
sing. In the moment they are practicing human participation in the pool.
Soon new trainees are expected in the dolphinarium – sea lions.Special thanks to Milena Minkova for the translation of this page.