The winners in April, 2012

The winners in March are following; please refer to your ID number.
The winners will receive prizes without prior announcement.

Are you interested in the annual passport?
If you visit the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium over twice a year, we recommend you to obtain an annual passport.
You will get some special services after your card renewal.

For more details, please click here.

Busiest time of day is from approx. 11:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

■Ocean Expo Park including parking lot will be crowded with many people during Golden Week ( from April 28 to May 6 2012) .So please have a margin of time if you come to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

There are fewer visitors in the evening (approx. after 16:00) at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
You can also relax and enjoy the ‘Feeding Show’ at the huge Kuroshio Sea Tank at 17:00.　
Recommended Courses‘Enjoyable Churaumi Course’

2. Congestion prediction probable dates ( May and June )

Differs with time of day.

heavily crowded

many people

not many people

Calculated number of visitors in June, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30

Calculated number of visitors in May, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Number of visitors in June, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
			1 3,263	2 4,414	3 5,766	4 7,002
5 6,705	6 6,331	7 4,803	8 3,804	9 3,829	10 4,838	11 5,856
12 6,261	13 4,545	14 3,679	15 4,054	16 3,861	17 5,650	18 6,826
19 6,502	20 4,263	21 5,017	22 4,557	23 7,176	24 7,000	25 9,624
26 9,200	27 7,272	28 4,840	29 4,478	30 5,611

Number of visitors in May, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
1 12,083	2 11,288	3 14,699	4 19,507	5 14,694	6 9,694	7 7,557
8 5,464	9 6,131	10 5,422	11 5,165	12 6,385	13 6,008	14 7,263
15 5,405	16 6,735	17 5,199	18 4,728	19 5,881	20 4,486	21 7,072
22 6,919	23 5,009	24 4,383	25 5,075	26 5,008	27 5,583	28 4,630
29 3,020	30 4,258	31 3,075

3．Parking Information of Ocean Expo Park

We have 8 free parking areas.
Please click here, for more details about parking information at Ocean Expo Park.

There are several kinds of dangerous marine life found in the warm tropical seas of Okinawa (for example, Box Jellyfish and Sea Wasp Anemones.)
Just before the beginning of the summer swimming season here, we will introduce these possible dangers at our Exhibition, using panels,models, and other useful information for visitors.
The exhibition also has a puzzle game and quiz which make it fun for children to learn about dangerous marine life. Learning about dangerous marine life can help reduce the risk of injury.
We are looking forward to your visit!

【Date】

From April 28 to May 6, 2012

【Time】

9：00～20：00
*It will be opened until 21:00 from May 3 to 5

【Location】

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 4th floor Event Hall

<Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Dates of Free Admission>

【Dates】

May 3, 2012(Thu. / holiday)8:30~21:00*
May 4, 2012(Fri. / holiday) 8:30~21:00*
May 5, 2012(Sat. / holiday)8:30~21:00*

【Intended applicants】

Elementary and Jr. High schoolers 　　*Under 6 years old is admission free as usual.

【Note】 Advance tickets which you have bought outside of our aquarium as convenience stores or travel agencys are not refundable at our Aquarium.Please inquire of the store where you bought.

*Special Days:Opening Hours are extended for 1 hour at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium during 3 days from May 3 to 5, 2012. (21:00 closed, 20:00 last admission)

The busiest time of day is from approx. 11:00 to 16:00 at our Aquarium. There are fewer visitors in the early evening (approx. after 16:00) and also you can enjoy using “After 4 PM tickets” , when the admission fee becomes uniformly 30 % off.

The winners in March, 2012

The winners in March are following; please refer to your ID number.
The winners will receive prizes without prior announcement.

Are you interested in the annual passport?
If you visit the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium over twice a year, we recommend you to obtain an annual passport.
You will get some special services after your card renewal.

For more details, please click here.

Busiest time of day is from approx. 11:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

■Ocean Expo Park including parking lot will be crowded with many people during Golden Week ( from April 28 to May 6 2012) .So please have a margin of time if you come to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

There are fewer visitors in the evening (approx. after 16:00) at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
You can also relax and enjoy the ‘Feeding Show’ at the huge Kuroshio Sea Tank at 17:00.　
Recommended Courses‘Enjoyable Churaumi Course’

2. Congestion prediction probable dates ( April and May)

Differs with time of day.

heavily crowded

many people

not many people

Calculated number of visitors in April, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Calculated number of visitors in May, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Number of visitors in April, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
					1 5,847	2 9,351
3 10,985	4 10,281	5 5,810	6 3,214	7 2,217	8 3,630	9 4,732
10 5,336	11 4,247	12 3,317	13 2,790	14 4,798	15 4,962	16 6,470
17 6,731	18 4,595	19 5,055	20 4,514	21 5,452	22 6,273	23 8,073
24 6,011	25 5,233	26 4,946	27 5,015	28 4,108	29 9,436	30 9,880

Number of visitors in May, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
1 12,083	2 11,288	3 14,699	4 19,507	5 14,694	6 9,694	7 7,557
8 5,464	9 6,131	10 5,422	11 5,165	12 6,385	13 6,008	14 7,263
15 5,405	16 6,735	17 5,199	18 4,728	19 5,881	20 4,486	21 7,072
22 6,919	23 5,009	24 4,383	25 5,075	26 5,008	27 5,583	28 4,630
29 3,020	30 4,258	31 3,075

3．Parking Information of Ocean Expo Park

We have 8 free parking areas.
Please click here, for more details about parking information at Ocean Expo Park.

In Fall 2002, a female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) “Fuji” lost 75% part of her flukes because of an unknown disease. Would it be possible to make the world’s first artificial flukes? Would the flukes allow her to swim and jump again as before? For scientific research, we started this experimental study on artificial flukes in cooperation with Bridgestone Co. Japan’s largest tire maker.

About “Fuji”

Fuji was caught in Kawana, Itoh, Shizuoka prefecture and transported by air to Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa in November 1976.
Her estimated age is 42, approximately 271 cm in length and weighs 211 kg as of 2011. She is a great mother of three children. Curently, her children Conny (female, born in June 9, 1989), and Chao (male, born in November 18, 1995) is living in the park with her.

The unknown disease on her flukes

Fuji has suffered from the unknown disease since October 16, 2002. She had symptoms such as loss of appetite, discoloration and necrosis in distal parts of flukes. The blood analysis and biochemical examination revealed she had a complex of infection and circular insufficiency. We excised the diseased parts by electronic surgical knife on October 25 and on November 7. With antibiotics and transfusion for 60 days, she thoroughly recovered from the disease, although she lost 75% of her flukes.

The first step of the project

This project first started when our veterinarian consulted for assistance to Bridgestone Sports Co.,Ltd. on November 27, 2002. One week after this contact, Bridgestone Co. agreed to cooperate in the project. To compensate her lost flukes, we officially started to develop artificial flukes in May 2003.

The goal of this project was to give scientific answers for the following questions:

• Do artificial flukes function as parts of flukes?
• Can Fuji fully recover her social interaction with other dolphins with artificial flukes?

We started this project not from the compassion for Fuji only, but for a scientific experiment. Fuji did not have any problem living in the park. It was reported that wild cetaceans without flukes appeared.

How to make artificial flukes

The first flukes cast was made of silicon on July 5, 2003. We developed the first model (40° hardness silicone rubber, 48cm wide, 30cm long, 2000g, Photo①) on September 12. But when tested on Fuji, it did not work well because of the attachment problems. The design of attaching belts caused scratches on her flukes. After reconsideration, we decided that we needed a more accurate mold of Fuji’s flukes and ordered to a famous acrylic sculptor. (Photo②)
At the beginning of March 2004, the band type second model (70° and 40° hardness silicone rubber, 70cm wide, 25cm long, 2200g, Photo③) was made. Since the band type receives greater water resistance, it was necessary to be improved into the cowling type. In mid-June of 2004, the cowling type (70° hardness silicone rubber, containing carbon cross reinforced plastics, 70cm wide, 25cm long, 2200g) was tested on Fuji. Observing the movement of the flukes same as other dolphins in the park, this model was confirmed to be functionally useful.
At this stage, artificial flukes were mechanically strong enough for swimming but not enough to sustain physical momentum of jumping. After the attempt to improve the material for the reinforced plastics and silicon rubber strength, we developed the flukes with stronger natural rubber material. In mid-Dec of 2004, the cowling type olympic model (70° hardness silicone rubber, containing cfrp, 70cm wide, 25cm long, 2500g, Photo④) was made in cooperation with Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. It makes Fuji to jump 3m at the highest point. Curently we use the cowling type YBECC model (natural rubber, containing fabric reinforced plastics for conveyor, 70cm wide, 35cm long, 2500g, Photo⑤), which enable to wear for a long time by adopting a durable natural rubber materials. This model allow mass production by hot pressing method with exclusive alminium mold and receive a permanent supply.

The Institute of Cetacean Research and our aquarium collaborated to analyze the swimming speed of the dolphin and demonstrate a significant benefit of such artificial flukes.

Training of Fuji

Rehabilitation training (1st stage)

In nature, the dolphins dislike to be attached a foreign object on their body. Fuji initially rejected artificial flukes. Therefore, we phased attachment training for Fuji.
For dolphins’ health control, it is very important to accustom them to the husbandry training. They need to allow the trainers to insert a thermometer into their anus and they need to lift their flukes out of water for taking blood samples. These trainings make it easy to check dolphins’ health conditions. The rehabilitation training of Fuji was similar to the husbandry training.
1) First, we taught Fuji to show her flukes at the trainer’s sign and let the trainer touch the flukes.
2) When she was accustomed to being touched, a piece of cloth or rubber band was attached to her flukes.
3) We continued this training patiently till Fuji get used to it. Finally, attaching artificial flukes was attempted.

Training was not easy as it might sound. At the beginning of training, Fuji had strong reaction to artificial flukes. She would struggle out of the trainer’s hand and swim away.
However, the trainers took time to train her patiently. We never forced the training to her aiming she became perfectly fine with the flukes.

Rehabilitation training (2nd stage)
When she became comfortable with artificial flukes, we started the next stage of the rehabilitation training. The first step of this stage was swimming training with the flukes. Even though she got a new flukes, she did not start swimming immediately. She was used to just floating in the pool and being hand-fed by the trainers. She got tired easily as we often saw her resting.
1) Trainers threw fish into the pool to let Fuji swim after the food.
2) Two trainers called Fuji using underwater bells at the both ends of the pool. She was trained to swim back and forth between them.
3) Next step was to make Fuji swim from 4m deep tank into 50cm shallow pool. In the shallow pool it was much easier for the trainers to attach the flukes to Fuji.
This last step took a long time. The shallow pool was an unfamiliar place for Fuji so she was scared. Though she could enter to the shallow pool, she felt uncomfortable and swam back to the main tank soon.

Trainers attracted Fuji to the shallow pool with the food. Now she can not only let trainers attach artificial flukes but also receive health check in the shallow pool.
4) When she got used to wearing the flukes, we began to train her to jump and touch a target. The training was started without attaching artificial flukes. When she learned to jump without the flukes, we started training with the flukes attached.
Fuji became able to jump strongly and touch the target. Now she can also do high jumps.

You can meet Fuji wearing artificial flukes about 4 hours a day at the Dolphin Lagoon Pool.

Future Plans

So far we have made 38 artificial flukes of 8 versions. However, the newest version is not yet perfect. We still continue our research for better materials and way of attachment. We are still trying out new ideas. At the same time, the research for artificial flukes might give us an insight into the function and mechanism of the natural dolphin flukes.
In order to achieve our goals, we would like to get more people involved and ask for diverse opinions.
Please come and visit Fuji at the Dolphin Lagoon Pool. We welcome your visit and will be happy to answer your questions.
Artificial flukes were registered as a patent in December 2009. (Patent No. 4421491)

Busiest time of day is from approx. 11:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

There are fewer visitors in the evening (approx. after 16:00) at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Recommended Courses‘Enjoyable Churaumi Course’

2. Congestion prediction probable dates ( March and April )

Differs with time of day.

heavily crowded

many people

not many people

Calculated number of visitors in March, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Calculated number of visitors in April, 2012

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Number of visitors in March, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
		1 4,623	2 5,193	3 4,752	4 6,655	5 7,723
6 8,345	7 9,300	8 8,153	9 7,219	10 7,836	11 7,759	12 9,724
13 6,930	14 5,617	15 6,179	16 5,856	17 3,934	18 5,316	19 7,232
20 10,525	21 7,876	22 5,626	23 4,114	24 3,611	25 5,587	26 7,657
27 10,424	28 10,177	29 7,837	30 6,637	31 6,005

Number of visitors in April, 2011

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
					1 5,847	2 9,351
3 10,985	4 10,281	5 5,810	6 3,214	7 2,217	8 3,630	9 4,732
10 5,336	11 4,247	12 3,317	13 2,790	14 4,798	15 4,962	16 6,470
17 6,731	18 4,595	19 5,055	20 4,514	21 5,452	22 6,273	23 8,073
24 6,011	25 5,233	26 4,946	27 5,015	28 4,108	29 9,436	30 9,880

3．Parking Information of Ocean Expo Park

We have 8 free parking areas.
Please click here, for more details about parking information at Ocean Expo Park.

Operating Hour

●Last admission time to the Aquarium is 1 hour before the closing time.

●Last admission time to the other facilities is 30 mins before the closing time.

*1 Road from the Aquarium Exit to North Gate, Central Gate including P3, P4, P5 and P7, Park Information Center and Restrooms are related to the group.

*2 Okichan Theater, Dolphin Lagoon, Sea Turtles Pool and Manatee Pool are related to the group.

●Operating Hour will be extended for 1 hour at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and aquarium related areas on following days as special day. (Dolphin facilities and other areas are closed as usual.)

The winners in January, 2012

The winners in January are following; please refer to your ID number.
The winners will receive prizes without prior announcement.

Are you interested in the annual passport?
If you visit the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium over twice a year, we recommend you to obtain an annual passport.
You will get some special services after your card renewal.

For more details, please click here.