Volume 36, Number 3 ~ Third Quarter 2011 Magazine of the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association TUBE IN? Voluntary Stomach Intubation in West Antillean Manatees Also in this issue COUNTDOWN A Dolphin's Use of Sound Cues to Imitate Motor Behaviors ISSN # 1007-016X VOLUME 36, NUMBER 3 ~ THIRD QUARTER 2011 CHIEF EDITOR D EDICATED TO ADVANCING THE HUMANE CARE PATRICK BERRY – Disney’s Animal Programs, The Seas MAGAZINE OF THE INTERnatiOnaL MARINE ANIMAL TRAINERS’ ASSOCiatiON AND HANDLING OF MARINE ANIMALS BY FOSTERING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS THAT SERVE MICHAEL OSBORN – Mystic Aquarium MARINE ANIMAL SCIENCE THROUGH TRAINING, PUBLIC DISPLAY, RESEARCH, HUSBANDRY, CONSERVATION, AND EDUCATION. ASSOCIATE EDITOR SUZANNE SMITH – Louisiana Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Resue Program BACK TO BASICS – Benjamin Schreiner ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTS – Ronnie Smith 8 26 OFF THE SHELF – Michael Belshaw PRODUCT PROFILE – Chris Scullion TRAINER’S FORUM – Robert Roozendaal Front Cover Photo Credit (inset photo): Dolphin Discovery IMATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSOCIATE EDITOR PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT BETH AMENT – Animal Behavior Consultant MICHAEL OSBORN DAVE ROBERTS REGIONAL REPORTS Mystic Aquarium SeaWorld San Diego Asia Philip Wong REGIONAL REPORTER CONTACT INFORMATION Australia Ryan Tate Associate Editor: Beth Ament [email protected] FIRST VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER Canada Brian Sheehan Asia: Philip Wong [email protected] BILL WOLDEN PATTY SCHILLING Caribbean Islands Adrian Penny Australia/New Zealand: Ryan Tate [email protected] Dolphin Quest, Inc New England Aquarium Europe North Central Christiane Thiere Europe Northeast Sunna Edberg 16 Canada: Brian Sheehan [email protected] Europe Northwest John-Rex Mitchell SECOND VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY Caribbean Islands: Adrian Penny [email protected] Europe South Central Pablo Joury GRANT ABEL LAURA YEATES Europe North Central: Christiane Thiere [email protected] Europe Southwest Monika Lechermeier Ocean Park Hong Kong U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program Japan Haruhiko Kato Europe Northeast: Sunna Edberg [email protected] Mexico Alex Mata Europe Northwest: John-Rex Mitchell [email protected] THIRD VICE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Middle East Tommy Wilken Pacific Islands Stephanie Vlachos Europe South Central: Pablo Joury [email protected] MICHELLE SOUSA CHRIS DAVIS Long Beach Aquarium A to Z Animal Management Russia/Ukraine Monika Lechermeier Europe Southwest: Monika Lechermeier [email protected] South Africa Gabby Harris Japan: Haruhiko Kato [email protected] PRESIDENT-ELECT South America Miguel Marques Mexico: Alex Mata [email protected] U.S. Midwest Stacey Lonski SHELLEY WOOD U.S. North Central John-Rex Mitchell Middle East: Tommy Wilken [email protected] Dolphin Discovery U.S. Northeast Beth Manning Pacific Islands: Stephanie Vlachos [email protected] U.S. Northwest Cinthia Alia-Mitchell Russia/Ukraine: Monika Lechermeier [email protected] U.S. South Central Shannon Ray FEATURES COMMITTEE CHAIRS U.S. Southeast Sarah Graff South Africa: Gabby Harris [email protected] ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL SERVICES U.S. Southwest Brittany Harris 16 V OLUNTARY STOMACH INTUBATION South America: Miguel Marques [email protected] BILLY HURLEY SUNNA EDBERG IN WEST ANTILLEAN MANATEES U.S. Midwest: Stacey Lonski [email protected] Georgia Aquarium Kolmarden ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tube in or tube out? That is the question DENNIS CHRISTEN – Georgia Aquarium The challenges and success of voluntary DEPARTMENTS U.S. North Central: John-Rex Mitchell [email protected] WHAT’S UP DOC – Jen DeGroot U.S. Northeast: Beth Manning [email protected] ANIMAL TRAINING ADVISORY IMATA TV stomach intubation in West Antillean TODD COFFMAN TONI Loschiavo CONSERVATION BRIEFS – Shelly Samm CONSERVATION BRIEFS EDUCATION FORUM – Jason Jones manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) U.S. Northwest: Cinthia Alia-Mitchell [email protected] SeaWorld Orlando Mystic Aquarium 5 Features conservation tidbits from around U.S. South Central: Shannon Ray [email protected] INNERviews – Kevin Roberts NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS – Haley Merritt A DOLPhin’s USE OF SOUND CUES the world U.S. Southeast: Sarah Graff [email protected] DENNIS CHRISTEN LEGISLATION, INFORMATION, RESEARCH BRIEFS – Beau Richter 26 I can do that blindfolded! A dolphin's use Georgia Aquarium AND POLICY BACK TO BASICS U.S. Southwest: Brittany Harris [email protected] of sound cues to imitate motor behaviors MARK XITCO ASSOCIATE EDITOR 6 Understanding sea otters Soundings is published four times a year by the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA) CENTRAL OFFICE U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program ERIKA PUTMAN – NMMP Foundation as a service to its members. Submissions of manuscripts, photographs, and illustrations are welcomed and KEN RAMIREZ CONFERENCE COUNTDOWN – Bill Wolden 12 ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTS encouraged, but will be returned only if accompanied by a return envelope and adequate postage. Any John G. Shedd Aquarium NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS CONFERENCE SITE SELECTION – Staci Lonski What's in your closet? DAVE ROBERTS LIP SYNC – Mark Xitco material accepted is subject to such revision as is necessary in our sole discretion to meet the requirements MEMBERSHIP UPDATES – Laura Yeates of publication. Soundings is produced using Microsoft Word; the style manual followed is the fifth edition CONFERENCE SeaWorld San Diego IMATA BUSINESS E DUCATION FORUM ERIN CLARK MERCHANDISE – Erin Clark 13 (2002) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Electronic submissions are preferred NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS – Dave Roberts Membership level and benefit changes New England Aquarium MERCHANDISE and can be sent to IMATA Soundings Chief Editor, Patrick Berry, at: [email protected]. (Typed submissions PRESIDENT’S CORNER – Michael Osborn President’s Corner ERIN CLARK 4 will also be accepted and should be double spaced on 8.5” x 11” paper.) Include the name, address, FAX REGIONAL WORKSHOP REPORTS – Staci Lonski Remember the pathway you followed RESEARCH BRIEFS CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH New England Aquarium 18 number, and phone number of the author on the title page. Slides and hard copy or photographs can be color and why IMATA “Dives” into advancing marine DEBI COLBERT ASSOCIATE EDITOR or black and white; photographs should be at least 3” x 5”. Digital photographs are welcomed and should animal research and conservation Association of Zoos and Aquariums PUBLICATIONS NEDRA HECKER CONFERENCE COUNTDOWN have adequate resolution when viewed on a computer screen. For all images, include captions, identify all opportunities! PATRICK BERRY FEATURE ARTICLES 8 It’s time to make plans for the 39th Annual recognizable persons, and include a photo credit. The act of submitting an article, photograph, or illustration Jennifer Alexander, Georgia Aquarium EDUCATION/MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Disney’s Animal Programs, The Seas IMATA Conference being held in Miami, REGIONAL REPORTS constitutes an agreement that (1) the materials are free of copyright restrictions, (2) photo releases have MADELYNN HETTIGER Michael Belshaw, Marineland Antibes 20 been obtained, and (3) the material may be published by IMATA in Soundings or other IMATA publications. John G. Shedd Aquarium REGIONAL WORKSHOPS Traci Belting, Seattle Aquarium Florida, 18-23 September 2011 Keep up on news from IMATA members Deadlines for submission are 15 November, 15 February, 15 May, and 15 August. Submissions should be STACI LONSKI Linda Beverly, Indianapolis Zoo around the world addressed to Patrick Berry, Soundings Chief Editor, email [email protected] or mailed to IMATA, 1200 South Margaret Black, Mystic Aquarium REGIONAL WORKSHOPS HELD FINANCE Indianapolis Zoo Sarah Brignac, Dolphin Research Center 19 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, USA, or faxed to (312) 939-2216. Address changes should be sent to TRACI BELTING Two IMATA regional workshops Trainer’s FORUM Carmen Colitz DVM, Animal Eye Specialty Clinic recently held 28 IMATA’s Secretary, Laura Yeates, at the same address. Address changes can also be made online at IMATA’s Seattle Aquarium SPONSORSHIP Matt Fripp, SeaWorld San Diego Do you use various types of bridges in web site, www.imata.org. CHRIS SCULLION Andy Johnson, Monterey Bay Aquarium your environment? If so, what types, and HONORS AND AWARDS U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program Nina Lambert, Theater of the Sea how do you pick and choose them? ©Copyright 2011. All of the articles contained within Soundings are the personal views of the respective MIKE POOL Brett Long, Alaska SeaLife Center authors and do not necessarily represent the views of IMATA or its Board of Directors. SeaWorld San Antonio Catherine ‘CJ’ Johnson, Knoxville Zoo WHAT'S UP DOC? Patrick W. B. Moore, SAIC BioSolutions 30 Shoes for a seal Ken Ramirez, John G. Shedd Aquarium CONTACT US Terry Samansky, DolphinTrainer.com NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA Patty Schilling, New England Aquarium 31 CHIEF EDITORS Grey Stafford, Wildlife World Zoo Information on conference dates and PHONE (312) 692-3193 FAX (312) 939-2216 PROCEEDINGS WEB SITE more [email protected] or visit our website at www.imata.org HEATHER KEENAN BEAU RICHTER HISTORIAN Miami Seaquarium Long Marine Laboratory and Aquarium CHERYL MESSINGER - The Dolphin Connection 31 OFF THE SHELF DESIGN & PRODUCTION Michael Hunt reviews Marineland Lunar Cow SOUNDINGS FACEBOOK PHOTO ARCHIVIST (Images