The director of the Novosibirsk Zoo Rostislav Shilo said that the long-awaited construction of urban dolphinarium has finally started. Today, workers began digging a foundation pit, following which the foundation will be filled.

      Besides main arena with the seating capacity of 650 seats, the projected dolphinarium will have several swimming pools: one for shows, two for animal accomodation, one quarantine pool and one for dolphin therapy. There are also small pools for penguins.  

      As zoo director, Rostislav Shilo reported earlier, 6 bottlenose dolphins, 2 white whales, 1 sea lion and 5 northern fur seals were already purchased and trained for dolphinarium. Meantime they stay in Sochi and wait to be moved to Novosibirsk. Investor and contractor plan to complete the project by the end of 2014. The construction works will cost 400 million roubles.

      The zoo is one of the largest in Russia (after Novosibirsk had a really tiny one for decades until 90-s). Much money has been invested in the zoo during "prosperous 00-s", thanks to the zoo's devoted director Shilo. The zoo is very well-attended and one of the best places to visit that Novosibisk can offer.