Heartopia Call of Whales Adds Dolphins—Where to Find Dolphin Trough and Food
Dolphins have arrived in Heartopia as part of the limited-time Call of Whales event, adding a new seasonal animal for players to befriend. To start building a dolphin bond, you’ll first need to complete the event questline to unlock the dolphins, then return each day to the Dolphin Trough to feed them their preferred fish and grow familiarity faster.
Release timing and availability details
The dolphins are available only while the Call of Whales seasonal event is active. Once the event ends, the dolphins will leave Whale Island, so daily feeding during the event is the fastest way to work toward bond-related rewards and dolphin-themed decor.
| Platform | Status | Date / window |
|---|---|---|
| Heartopia | Live (seasonal event content) | During the Call of Whales event; ends when the event concludes |
How to unlock dolphins in Heartopia
After you log in during the event, a short sequence kicks off activity around Whalefall Canyon. Oliver contacts you before the investigation begins, sending you to examine three suspicious shadow locations around the area.
To move the quest forward, interact with each of the three investigation points and complete all three inspections. When that’s finished, Rory introduces the Dolphin Trough in Whalefall Canyon. At that point, dolphins become accessible through the Animal menu, and you can track bond progress and revisit the feeding area as needed.
Dolphin Trough location in Whalefall Canyon
The Dolphin Trough is hidden underwater in Whalefall Canyon, located beneath the ocean. It becomes available after the dolphin investigation quest and after speaking with Rory.
Once the trough is unlocked, the quickest route starts from the underwater camp near the portal. From there, swim through the ocean shortcut toward Whalefall Canyon, continue downward, and reach the open section of the canyon where the feeding area is located.
If the trough doesn’t show up right away, keep progressing through the Call of Whales introduction—its availability is tied to completing the shadow investigation and the Rory step in the event storyline.
While exploring, you can also use the event marker if you forget the route; the quest tracker generally points you toward the feeding area and reduces the need for manual underwater navigation.
What to feed dolphins (and why it matters)
Dolphins have three favorite foods, and feeding these fish increases familiarity more quickly than using random catches. Their preferred fish are:
- Sardine
- Sea Bass
- Scad
Sardines can be found throughout the ocean, and Sea Bass are available across general ocean fishing spots. Scad is the more demanding option because it’s exclusive to the Whale Sea.
If your goal is to maximize growth, it’s recommended to spend extra time fishing for these favorites. Keeping a small supply of all three in storage also helps you feed the trough daily without scrambling for the right fish each visit.
Bond levels, rewards, and daily priorities
Feeding dolphins their preferred fish increases bond level each time. Higher bond levels unlock additional rewards and expand your interactions with the seasonal animal.
A major milestone arrives at Bond Level 2, where dolphins have a chance to visit your Sea Mount underwater home. Like other animals in Heartopia, they can also leave gifts.
As your bond continues to rise, you’ll receive dolphin-themed decor displays that can be placed as decorative furniture. These exclusive collectibles are only available while the seasonal event is active, so they’re something to prioritize before the dolphins leave.
Weather preference and planning
Dolphins prefer Sunny weather. Using the in-game watch to track conditions can help you line up daily feeding with clear weather during the event. The watch can also help you coordinate with other seasonal activities, including the Rainbow and Meteor Shower events.
What’s still unclear
The event content explains the daily feeding loop and the bond milestones listed above, but the exact end date/time for Call of Whales isn’t provided here. Players should treat the dolphins as time-limited until the event concludes and keep a daily feeding checklist to avoid missing rewards.
