It was once the star of the Oklahoma City Zoo but Aquaticus will be demolished to make room for a new sea lion exhibit and other improvements as the part of an ongoing plan. It has been more than 20 years since dolphin performances ended at Aquaticus after three dolphins died and animal rights groups protested.

Yes, the Oklahoma City Zoo once had a popular dolphin exhibit within its Aquaticus pavilion. The zoo kept bottlenose dolphins from 1986 until 2001. The facility was a "dolphinarium" that featured regular shows where the animals performed for large crowds. However, the zoo made the difficult decision to end the program in 2001 following the deaths of several dolphins and increasing concerns about the suitability of an inland, landlocked facility for marine mammals. The remaining dolphins were transferred to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Mississippi to live in a more natural, seaside environment. Today, the former dolphin tanks have been renovated and repurposed to house California sea lions, which are better suited for the facility's current footprint. The transition marked a shift in the zoo’s mission toward habitats that more accurately reflect the natural needs and social structures of the animals in their care.