(Quote: "Dolphins are like dogs when it comes to training..."
Yeah, right. 400 lb [180 kg] dogs with brains 10% larger than ours that live in a hostile environment where we're fundamentally helpless. Go figure, Rover!)
5 things you didn't know about: Brookfield Zoo dolphins
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By Laura Bollin
Brookfield Suburban Life
Posted Dec 06, 2010 @ 03:44 PM
Brookfield, IL —
Brookfield Zoo is celebrating 50 years of dolphin care this year, as well as renovations to its Seven Seas Dolphinarium. Although millions of people have visited the zoo to see its dolphin shows since they began in the 1960s, there are a few things many folks might not know about dolphins.
Will train for Jell-0
Dolphins are like dogs when it comes to training — they respond to positive reinforcement techniques.
"Sometimes dog owners use harsh techniques, like a leash or choke collar, but you can't do that with a dolphin — they'll just swim away from you," said Rita Stacey, marine mammal curator at Brookfield Zoo. "In our training, they learn to do a variety of husbandry and show behaviors."
The dolphins are rewarded with fish, ice cubes and Jell-O.
The way you move
Most of the training dolphins do — from different swimming techniques to body positions — are learned to help out the zoo's veterinarians.
Mairim Martinez, who's been a dolphin trainer for two years, said she teaches Chinook, a 27-year-old male, certain ways to move to help out the staff.
"He lays on his back so we can do blood draws out of his tail flukes," Martinez said. "We use a side position for ultrasounds or for ophthalmologists to check out his eyes."
Brand new place to splash
In May, the zoo finished renovating the Seven Seas Dolphinarium. The zoo's dolphins were sent to the Minnesota Zoo during the renovation, and they returned to an arena with upgrades to the water filtration system, roof repairs and new liners on all four pool spaces — the main pool, two holding pools and a medical pool.
When not to tame
Stacey said one of the most important parts of the zoo's dolphin shows is teaching people about dolphins in the wild.
All dolphins at Brookfield Zoo are bred by staff in a seven-organzation dolphin consortium, but Stacey said that unlike zoo dolphins, wild dolphins should not be comfortable around people.
"We train and care for our animals, and we know them really well," Stacey said. "Dolphins in the wild should not be coming up to boats and begging for food. It is very dangerous for them because they can get injured by the propellers."
Check it out
The zoo's seven dolphins — Tapeko, 28; Chinook, 27; Spree, 8; Noelani, 7; Tatem, 6; Allison, 5 and Nea, 3, are all part of the zoo's daily dolphin shows. Spree is on a breeding loan from the Minnesota Zoo. Zoo guests can also participate in Wild Encounters "Caring for our Flippered Friends" program, which takes zoo guests behind the scenes at the dolphin, seal and sea lion exhibits.
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