There is a new star at Shedd Aquarium, and he wears glasses. Meet Beni, a male spectacled owl who has just joined the Shedd family as one of the aquarium’s newest animal ambassadors.
Guests might not expect to find a bird at an aquarium, but Beni has an important story to tell. Spectacled owls are one of only a few owl species that permanently inhabit the Amazon River Basin, where they live and hunt near bodies of water. His species gets its name from the feather patterns around the eyes that make it look like he is wearing spectacles.
“When guests look into the eyes of a curious, fascinating bird like Beni, it sparks a connection with wildlife that can last a lifetime,” said Katie Majerowski, manager of animal engagement. “We hope it will inspire our guests to protect the water that we all depend on.”
Beni has been settling in behind the scenes, joining training and enrichment sessions with his caretakers. Lucky visitors may soon spot him at pop-up experiences or after-hours events. And families can come eye-to-eye with dozens of other species native to the Amazon River Basin — arapaima, electric eels and poison dart frogs — in Shedd’s reimagined Amazon Rising exhibit.
A visit to meet Beni is a chance to see how water connects every ecosystem in the world — and to fall in love with the Amazon without leaving Chicago.
Photo: Shedd Aquarium
