Marine Mammals in Captivity

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Marine Mammals in Captivity

• Brandon Thorson
• Animal Science 411

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Key Terms/Abbreviations

• NOAA National Oceanic Atmospheric
  Administration
• ESA Endangered Species Act
• SSP Species Survival Plan
• AZA Association of Zoos Aquariums
• AMMPA Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks
  Aquariums
• IMATA International Marine Animal Trainers
  Association

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Outline

• Why Captivity?
• Common Questions of Concern
• What Purposes Do They Serve
• Accrediting Organizations
• Conclusions
• Actions To Be Taken?

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Why Captivity?There are many reasons!

• Injured or stranded individuals
• Determined Non-releasable
• Survival of Species

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Injured or Stranded Individuals

• The Ultimate Goals !
• - Rehabilitation
• - Release
• Not Always So Simple
• - Extended Rehabilitation
• - Debilitating Injuries
• - Death Due to Injuries/Illness
• - Euthanasia

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Determined Non-Releasable

• Extended Rehabilitation
• - Injury/Illness
• Previous Capture or Captive Raised
• - No Permits Since 1989 (NOAA)
• - Loss of Survival Skills
• Hunting for food
• Disease resistance
• Etc

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Survival of Species

• Many Endangered or Threatened Species of Marine
  Mammals
• - Approx. 1,880 total species under ESA (NOAA)
• - 22 listed species of Marine Mammals (NOAA)
• Baiji
• - Dolphin of Chinas Yangtze River
• - Its at the California condor level, if not
  the passenger
• pigeon
• - J. Pete Schroeder research vet at the Naval
  Ocean
• Systems Center Lab in Hawaii (Ames)

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Common Questions of Concern

• Why do you make them do tricks?
• - If they dont do them they dont get fed?!
• Why dont you just let them go free?
• How do you know they are happy?

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Why do you make them do Tricks?If they dont do
them they dont get fed?!

• They are not tricks!
• Husbandry Behaviors
• Natural
• e.g. Spy hop, breech, etc
• Medical
• e.g. Fluke presentation, desensitization,
  etc
• Safety
• e.g. Retrieval

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Why do you make them do Tricks?If they dont do
them they dont get fed?!

• Operant Conditioning
• - Type of learning in which behaviors are
  altered by the
• consequences that follow them. (Sea World)
• Positive Reinforcement
• - A reinforcement procedure in which a
  reinforcer is
• presented following the performance of a
  correct
• response, which increases the probability
  that the
• response will reoccur in the future.
  (IMATA)
• Carefully Prepared and Recorded Rations

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Why dont you just let them free?

• Free Willy Syndrome
• - It's been about a year since Keiko was freed
  from his pen and
• swam straight back to human companionship
  (Latest)
• Loss/Lack of Survival Skills
• - Some can be trained but many cannot
• Most Reintroductions Are Unsuccessful
• Rehabilitation and Reintroduction whenever
  possible

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How do you know they are happy?

• Most difficult question!
• No Scientific or Factual Information
• Is your dog/cat happy?
• Experience

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What Purposes Do They Serve

• Survival of Species
• Research
• Therapy
• Education/Ambassadors

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Survival of Species

• SSP (Species Survival Plan)
• Animal Loan
• AI
• Sustain Genetic Health and Diversity

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Research

• Observation and Husbandry Records of Captive and
  Wild Individuals
• Benefits Health and Well-Being of Both Captive
  and Wild
• Essential for Marine Mammal Conservation

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Therapy

• Several programs throughout U.S and World
• Similar To Horse Therapy
• Make-A-Wish Foundation

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Education/Ambassadors

• Most Important!!
• Exhibits, Displays, Programs Literature
• Enhance Experience
• Awareness
• Conservation
• They are Ambassadors to those in the Wild

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Accrediting OrganizationsChoose the Right
Zoo/Aquarium!!

• Improvements Have Been Made
• Improvements Still Need to be Made
• Organizations that Promote and Require Excellence
  in Care
• - AZA
• - AMMPA
• - IMATA

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AZA(Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

• Dedicated to the advancement of accredited zoos
  and aquariums in the areas of animal care,
  wildlife conservation, education and science.
• Americas leading accrediting organization for
  zoos and aquariums
• Must achieve rigorous standards
• Fewer than 10 of approximately 2,400 animal
  exhibitors licensed by the USDA are accredited
• AZA.org

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AMMPAAlliance of Marine Mammal Parks and
Aquariums

• an international association representing marine
  life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities,
  and professional organizations dedicated to the
  highest standards of care for marine mammals and
  to their conservation in the wild through public
  education, scientific study, and wildlife
  presentations.
• 1st and largest in World solely dedicated to
  Marine Mammals
• Accredited members must uphold Alliance
  Standards and Guidelines to optimize the
  psychological and physical health of, and
  environmental conditions for, individual marine
  mammals under their care, and to maximize the
  educational and scientific value of their
  collections as a whole.
• AMMPA.org

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IMATAInternational Marine Animal Trainers
Association

• IMATA was founded to foster communication,
  professionalism, and cooperation among those who
  serve marine mammal science through training,
  public display, research, husbandry,
  conservation, and education.
• An organization for trainers to collectively
  enhance their own and each others knowledge
• IMATA is dedicated to providing and advancing
  the most professional, effective, and humane care
  of marine animals in all habitats.
• IMATA.org

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Excellence in Care

• Institutions Individuals Excellence in Care
• Excellence in
• - Nutrition
• - Mental and Physiological health
• - Veterinary Care
• - Social Groups
• - Quality of Life

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Conclusions

• Whether due to injury, stranding, or captive
  rearing the animals cannot survive within the
  wild.
• The survival of some species may lay in the hands
  of captive breeding and rearing.
• Through research of captive individuals it is
  increasing our ability to care for and conserve
  those in the wild.
• Through types of therapy which is a positive
  reinforcer for captive individuals they are
  helping challenged humans.
• With dedicated organizations and individuals the
  quality of care is always increasing.
• Through excellent husbandry skills, individuals
  are providing a high quality of life and helping
  animals be Ambassadors to those in the wild.

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Resources

• Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
  2006. 8 Oct. 2006 lthttp//www.ammpa.orggt.
• Ames, Marcia H. "Saving Some Cetaceans May
  Require Breeding in Captivity." Bioscience 11th
  ser. 41 (1991) 746-749.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 2006. 8 Oct.
  2006 lthttp//aza.orggt.
• Brydon, Anne. "The Predicament of Nature Keiko
  the Whale and the Cultural Politics of Whaling in
  Iceland." Anthropological Quarterly 79 (2006)
  225-260.
• "Goals of the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens
  Education Departments." Seaworld. 2006. 8 Oct.
  2006 lthttp//www.swbg-adventurecamps.com/just-for-
  teachers/guides/pdf/ht-7-12.pdfgt.
• IMATA - International Marine Animal Trainers'
  Association. 2006. 8 Oct. 2006 lthttp//imata.orggt.
  
• "Latest Keiko News." Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean
  Futures Society. 2006. 8 Oct. 2006
  lthttp//www.oceanfutures.org/default.aspgt.
• NOAA Fisheries Service. 2006. NOAA. 8 Oct. 2006
  lthttp//www.nmfs.noaa.gov/gt.
• Waples, Kelly A., and Clifford S. Stagoll.
  "Ethical Issues in the Release of Animals From
  Captivity." Bioscience 2nd ser. 47 (1997)
  115-120.