The Shedd Aquarium has closed the Oceanarium section of the aquarium for renovations and enhancements, expected to be complete by June 2009, and began preparations to relocate some of its marine mammals to other zoos and aquariums during the construction.

The Oceanarium, one of the Shedd’s more popular features, is home to the aquarium’s marine mammals. It was first opened in 1991 and it will be getting a bit of a makeover, said Roger Germann, spokesperson for the Shedd Aquarium.

Of the 145 animals that call the Oceanarium their home, the dolphins, sea otters and beluga whales will be sent to other institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) around the country, where they will stay for the duration of the renovations.

The penguins and sea lions will be housed in a behind-the-scenes area in the Wild Reef section of the aquarium, while some of the smaller animals like the sea stars and urchins will be incorporated into other exhibits, Germann said.

The major renovations include the recoating of the five Oceanarium pools, new centralized staff offices and enhancements to guest services throughout the area. Most of the work is preventative, routine maintenance that needs to be done to keep the animal habitats in the best possible condition, Germann said.

“These animals are like family members to us and one thing we’ve always done is just make sure their habitats are the best they can be,” Germann said.

A Shedd staff member will be traveling with each of the animals being relocated to make sure the Shedd’s animals receive the best animal care, Germann said, because some of the other locations may not have adequate staff to handle the increased population.

In order for zoos and aquariums to be members of the AZA, they must meet high mandatory standards for animal care, make a significant contribution to wildlife conservation and have stable finances and governance, said AZA spokesperson Steve Feldman.

“One of the important benefits of [AZA membership] is that our members become very comfortable sending animals to another institution knowing they will receive the same high quality of care,” Feldman said.

At some point in the near future, the Shedd will announce where each relocated animal has been sent, and some new features on its website will allow guests to follow these animals and get updates on them.

“People will be able to go on the website and see videos and pictures of the animals and have chats with their trainers,” Germann said. “It’s a wonderful way to stay in touch with these animals while they are on vacation.”

Another main feature of the renovations is a new centralized office space that is being built on the roof between the Oceanarium and the original aquarium building. Previously, the offices were spread throughout the aquarium and this move will free up approximately 20,000 square feet of potential exhibition space in the aquarium, Germann said.

The new eco-friendly offices will carry the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Some of the green features will include waterless urinals and a possible rainwater collection system on the roof of the building, which Germann said could save up to a million gallons of water per year.

Germann said it is important for guests to know that the rest of the aquarium will remain open during the construction.

“One interesting thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that while the Oceanarium is extremely popular here it’s less than 1 percent of our total animal collection,” Germann said.

The Shedd will be adding some new programs, like a pet show and more “animal encounters.”

For these encounters aquarium staff will bring animals out on the floor for a meet-and-greet with guests, giving them the opportunity to learn more and get very close to the animals, in some cases even touching them, Germann said.

In anticipation of the Oceanarium’s closing, ticket prices have been reduced by $10, from $27.95 to $17.95. The Chicago CityPass, which includes admission to the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry and Sears Tower Skydeck, will remain at $59 for $108 worth of tickets.

Mike Gallagher, co-founder and CEO of CityPass, said they have been

making sure that their customers are aware that the Oceanarium portion of the Shedd will be closed for the next nine months.

“The Shedd told us about [the renovations] early on so we were able to print the information on the ticket passes, and we put it on our website,” Gallagher said. “What I’ve found is that if people know in advance [when] something like that is happening, then they are OK with it.”