Every time I looked for a place to take the kids to, the Dolphin Aquarium name would come up. Finally we head there and the dome of the Irla Dolphin Aquarium (IDA) looms promisingly. When we get off, however, the exteriors startle me
Irla Dolphin Club
Every time I looked for a place to take the kids to, the Dolphin Aquarium name would come up.
Finally we head there and the dome of the Irla Dolphin Aquarium (IDA) looms promisingly.
When we get off, however, the exteriors startle me.
Dolphin, I prompt and I’m nudged into the central atrium. The atrium is lined up with glass cases that contain fish.
Some are labeled, and some aren’t. We walk around examining the fish. I feel deflated. The entire atrium is empty except for us. At the door, someone is chopping bread into cubes that is being bagged.
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You can buy food for the fish in the pond surounding the aquarium. I learn that this little space was built over an old dumping ground.
We get out of the aquarium and move to see the rest of this space. Built around the indoor aquarium is a pond where one can go boating. The water is murky, yet people are paddling in swan-shaped boats and throwing feed. Up come brightly coloured fish to eat the bread. Boating? I ask the kids. They say no.
Between the pond and the indoor aquarium is space where you can take a walk/jog, or sit around and watch the fish or feed the fish, or the water lilies that are grown. You can also take a train ride, or look at the assortment of birds that have been caged, or enjoy a snack or simply, be. This space is dotted with people doing different activities. The kids try the toy train. There is even a small temple here. Something for everyone, I guess.
This quaint space has an interesting collection of birds — from the emu that looks at me questioningly as I aim my camera, fantail pigeon, turkey, yellow golden pheasant, guinea fowl, kaka tale (cockatoo), silver dove, java, finches and African love birds. There are rabbits and hamsters too. As we walk an un-caged hawk flies down and stares at us belligerently. The children want to feed birds.
“Why is it called The Dolphin Club?” I ask owner, Owen Misquitta. I have scanned the water of the pond in vain to spot a dolphin. “We have baby dolphin fish. When they grow they will be moved into a bigger aquarium.” But the baby dolphins indicated looked nowhere like a dolphin. But then the cage of Cockatoo here has been named Kaka Tale and the guinea fowl is called guinea faul, so whatever.
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