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ABC Animal Training Workshop Q & A with Shelley Wood
// July 20th, 2010 // View Comments // News
Dolphin Discovery takes great pride in having the best marine animal trainers in the world and in our continuing education programs for our training personnel. Having knowledgeable and passionate staff is vital in order to give our guests the ultimate experience and keep our dolphins and marine animals happy and healthy. Animal training guru Shelley Wood brings her ABC Animal Training Workshops to Dolphin Discovery and works closely with our staff to ensure the highest possible standards and to teach the next generation of trainers. I sat down with Shelley and did a little Q & A session with her to find out exactly what the ABC Animal Training Workshop is all about.
ABC Basic Workshop 2010 Riviera Maya
1. What is the ABC workshop? Who can join?
The ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy is a unique, one of a kind, hands-on, get in the water, totally fun workshop with marine mammals. The workshop is for anyone interested in learning about how we communicate to animals using Operant Conditioning. Registration for the Basic course is open to anyone over the age of 18 who is willing to get close and personal and learn about dolphins, sea lions and manatees. The Advanced course registration is for students who have successfully completed the Basic course and have 1 year’s professional animal experience.
2. What are the goals of the workshop and the benefits to the participants? Will this help get a job in the animal training field? Just for fun? Both?
The goals are for the students to walk away from both the workshops with not only practical understanding of animal- human communication using Operant Conditioning but have also had extensive experience with applying this knowledge. The students become empowered with their own ability to quickly learn and successfully demonstrate this by handling their own dolphins, sea lions and manatees. Along with this empowerment realization the students create personal, long lasting relationships with other training professionals and with the other students. These bonds are great support systems to encourage the students to live and follow their dreams. This is why our placement rate for Academy graduates in finding their dream job is high. Oh and yes, of course, it’s a lot of fun!
3. What’s a typical day/week like for the participants?
Typical day is about half time classroom and half time in water working with the animals. In addition to learning Operant Conditioning Basic students learn life skills, things like teamwork, resumes, interviews and more. The Advanced students really hone their skills with advanced training techniques. Husbandry training and Animal Care are common elements in both courses. Oh and did I mention fun?
4. Who is Shelley Wood?
I have extensive training experience with marine mammals and teaching trainers. My passion is teaching people how to kindly and efficiently train all animals living under human care to have the best quality of life, both mentally and physically. All animals deserve our utmost respect and we can demonstrate this respect for them by not only keeping them physically fit but keeping them mentally stimulated as well. I’m the owner and primary instructor for the ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy and I have created and produced the ABC Animal Training DVD and study guide for anyone to easily and quickly learn the science of Operant Conditioning to train any species of animal
Shelley Wood as "The Sea Lion"
5. Tell me about your products, what’s on the DVD?
ABC of Animal Training is a 2 DVD set and study guide that teaches the science of Operant Conditioning. Students learn best using all their senses. The DVDs provide great visual examples and the study guide gives the student the opportunity to read about what they have just seen in the videos and it is complete with worksheets and action items that follow each chapter. By using the ABC of Animal Training students learn by seeing, reading, writing and by doing. The DVDs also have some wonderful Training Time segments that were produced and written by my husband, Mike Wood. Mike has been in the training business since 1972 and this long history along with his humor provides great video material. My favorite Training Time is Grunge E. Backwater. Check him out!
6. What’s your favourite part of the workshops? Any funny experiences?
Without a doubt the favorite part of the workshops are the light bulb moments when the students become so empowered with their abilities that they begin to believe in the power of themselves; that their own dreams are a reality. I have seen this not only with the young students but with the older students, working professionals and retirees as well. Funny experiences? Its all fun, every single moment.
7. What are your animal training philosophies?
We talk about philosophies in both workshops; in fact it’s a thread we weave throughout the entire workshop so its difficult to squeeze into a few sentences. Basically my philosophy is to teach people to be the best trainers they can be, trainers who think not only about the entire learning experience of the animals living under human care but also about their teammates as well. We do not live nor work in isolated environments so we need to always work on positive relationships with our bosses and coworkers. All of these factors definitely can influence the animals who we are working for.
8. Most important aspect of being a trainer? Who makes a good trainer?
The question is not what makes a good trainer but what makes an excellent trainer. There are key elements to excellence and it’s woven into the philosophy that we briefly were talking about. It’s also woven onto all aspects of our lives and all our relationships. It’s not only mastering the science of Operant Conditioning but the Art of it as well. Take the workshops and you will begin to understand this process.
9. Have you met an animal you couldn’t train? Which animals are hardest/easiest to train? What behaviours are the easiest/hardest to implement in an animal?
All animals can be trained but I have personally met some difficult animals who have challenged my abilities. I am a better trainer because of these experiences. The ease or difficultness of training depends on the trainers skills set, experience and willingness to seek advise. Im glad you didn’t ask me about the human species…….
10. What do you see as the future of ABC workshops?
Dolphin Discovery has many locations both in Mexico and the Caribbean and they all provide unique opportunities for the Academy students. We would like to organize workshops at all facilities and to do workshops at many different times throughout the year. We are open to bringing the Academy to other institutions as well. For the 2011 schedule go to www.abcanimaltraining.com for more information.
BIG thanks to Shelley for taking the time to answer my questions. (And making me smile, Shelley is not only a guru with animals, but a fantastic “people person” too!) For more information check out the ABC Animal Training Workshop webpage or join the community on the ABC Animal Training Facebook page.
Sea Lion Facts
// July 19th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Sea Life, Vallarta
Everyone loves sea lions, aside from being so handsome, they seem to have a great sense of humour, always making us laugh. So, what do you know about sea lions? Let’s have a look at some facts….
–Sea lions are found all over the world, from the Arctic to New Zealand, usually found along rocky coasts where there are rich food sources such as sardines, herring, capelin and squid.
–Sea lions can be distinguished from seals by their visible external ear flaps.
–Sea lions are “pinnipeds’, meaning they have “winged feet”.
–Sea lions are amphibious, they live on both land and water.
–Sea lions are “marine mammals”, meaning they do not lay eggs but do in fact carry and give birth to their young. Males are “bulls”, females are “cows” and babies are called “pups”.
–Sea lions have a lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild, but in a healthy zoological environment can live 25-35 years.
–Sea lion mamas gestate for 10-12 months. Their pups are born on land and will nurse from their mother from 4-12 months.
–Sea lions are warm blooded, covered in a layer of fat to protect them from cold temperatures.
–Sea lions breathe air, but can remain under water for up to 40 minutes if hunting for food, accomplished by squeezing their nostrils shut tight.
–Sea lions are very communal, usually living in large colonies of up to 1000, with smaller communities appearing within the group.
–Sea lions aren’t lazy, but they sure do love to hang around on the rocks and bask in the sun.
–Sea lions are intelligent and easy to train, the military has been training them for years for rescue operations in the sea.
–The biggest dangers to sea lions are fishermen, pollution and climate change. Their predators are killer whales and sharks, though they can swim faster than both they can be taken by surprise.
Dolphin Discovery invites you to get up close and personal with these sweet creatures, our sea lion friends can be found in the following destinations:
Get a hug, a fishy kiss and you will most definitely walk away smiling from your Sea Lion Encounter with Dolphin Discovery!
Please remember to keep our oceans and beaches clean, plastic bags, six-pack rings, garbage of all kinds is very damaging to the sea lions and their environment. Do what you can to protect our precious marine life, go for a walk on the beach and pick up trash, educate your children, spread the word that if we each do our small part, all earth’s creatures will have a brighter future.
Grand Cayman Open Water Flowers Sea Swim
// June 25th, 2010 // View Comments // Grand Cayman, Locations, News
World Cup Soccer may be making headlines these days, but for folks on Grand Cayman Island the 18th annual Flowers Sea Swim was the focus last Saturday, June 19th, 2010. The one mile open water swim race had it’s most successful year ever, with a record setting 777 participants hitting the ocean and racing to the finish. Swimmers from around the world took to the waters of the famous Seven Mile Beach, vying for almost $100 000 in prizes, including swim with dolphins packages from Dolphin Discovery. The event attracted some of the world’s top athletes, including Olympians Shaune Fraser and Ian Crocker. As in past years, proceeds from the event went to charity, this year supporting the Sunrise Adult Training Center.
The overall winner of the 2010 race was Alex Meyer, a tremendous young athlete from Harvard University clocking in a spectacular time of 17.18 minutes, with 16 year old Eva Fabian coming in a very close second place at 17.47 minutes, both athletes setting records with their performances. Dolphin Discovery Grand Cayman would like to congratulate all the participants on their remarkable achievements and we thank organizer and founder Frank Flowers and his daughter Dara Flowers-Burke for their incredible efforts in creating a world-class event for our island community. We look forward the future of the Flowers Sea Swim!
Boatswain’s Turtle Farm Grand Cayman Island
// June 23rd, 2010 // View Comments // Grand Cayman, Locations, Sea Life
Grand Cayman Island is famous for many things, the beautiful stretch of Seven Mile beach, great scuba diving, snorkeling at Stingray City, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery (of course!), rum cakes and Boatswain’s Turtle Farm. The history of the Cayman Islands is closely tied to turtles, the turtle appears on the flag, seal and currency of the islands. The relationship with the Caymans and turtles goes back to the 1600’s when Caribbean ships would stop at the island for provisions and to stock up on the abundance of turtle meat. The 17th century saw the beginnings of settlements in the Cayman Islands and turtling became a a main source of income and food for the new islanders. By the 1800’s, the population of turtles was in serious jeopardy and by the 1960’s they were all but extinct. In 1968 the Cayman Turtle Farm was established to raise turtles commercially and to research and preserve the sea turtles of the wild. While many of the turtles are still raised for food, thousands of sea turtles born at Boatswain’s are released to the sea, replenishing the wild population of these beautiful creatures.
Dolphin Discovery Grand Cayman is pleased to have such a wonderful neighbour in West Bay and we invite you to pay them a visit before or after you swim with dolphins. The entrance fee to Boatswain’s Turtle Farm is included in all dolphin swim programs, allowing you to enjoy the turtle enclosures, the education center, the breeding pond, the touch tanks and all animal exhibits including the predator tank with sharks! If you wish to snorkel or enjoy the pools, these “wet” activities are available at a small extra charge. Boutiques and restaurants will satisfy your shopping and dining needs, purchase souvenirs for loved ones back home or simply sip an ice cold rum drink in paradise while nibbbling a Caribbean delicacy. Dolphin Discovery and Boatswain’s Turtle Farm are the ideal combination for a perfect day on Grand Cayman, a unique shore excursion for Caribbean cruisers, book now and make it an unforgettable part of your Caribbean vacation!
Sea Turtle Conservation in the Mexican Caribbean
// June 10th, 2010 // View Comments // Uncategorized
Every year thousands of sea turtles come to the shores of Mexico to lay their eggs on the beach before returning to the sea. Six species of turtles make the Mexican Caribbean their destination of choice, including the endangered Green Sea Turtles and Loggerheads. The nesting season begins in May and lasts through October, with the eggs hatching 50-60 days after being deposited in the sand. Not that long ago the turtles were hunted for their shells and meat, but thankfully the Mexican government placed them on the protected species list, implementing laws that make the theft of eggs and the killing of turtles punishable by jail time. Unfortunately, year after year erosion and contamination have spoiled some of their pristine nesting grounds, prompting animal organizations in the region to lend a helping hand to ensure the continued cycle of life of these peaceful creatures.
The Tortugranja (Turtle Farm) on Isla Mujeres is one of the organizations devoted to the conservation of the sea turtle. This scientific research center is funded almost exclusively by private donations, relying on the generosity of individuals and businesses to continue their work. Dolphin Discovery is pleased to contribute to the cause and to be working with the Tortugranja in their efforts to protect the sea turtles of Isla Mujeres. We have donated recycled materials such as fencing to build new protected nesting areas and holding areas for turtles. Our veterinarians are assisting in the care of the turtles and our laboratories are being used for analysis of samples for research. In addition, our team of dolphin trainers are working on night watches on the shores, monitoring the nests and protecting the mothers who come to lay their eggs. Through the combined contributions of many on Isla Mujeres and in the state of Quintana Roo, we hope to give the turtles a full, free life in the sea.
The Tortungranja of Isla Mujeres is open to the public, please stop by and visit! A portion of the 30 peso entrance fee goes directly to conservation efforts and allows the facility to continue its great work with the turtles. You’ll see a variety of turtle species in different life stages, and enjoy the small aquarium with a collection of local sea life (the sea horses are a delight!) The Tortugranja is located just minutes from Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres on the west coast of the island, a pleasant way to spend an hour after swimming with dolphins. If you come at the right time, you just might be lucky enough to see newborns or participate in a turtle release program!
If you are visiting the Mexican Caribbean during the months of May to November, be aware that it is nesting and hatching season. Watch your step on the beach, while many nests are clearly marked by protection agencies, sometimes you’ll stumble on a nest that has yet to be noted, do not step on the nest, do not move the sand and definitely do not touch the eggs! If you find an unmarked nest, be sure to notify hotel staff, they will make arrangements for its protection. If you are on the beach at night and are fortunate enough to see a mother turtle coming ashore, please leave her in peace, do not make loud noises nor shine flashlights and avoid taking pictures with a flash camera. The lights will scare the mother back to sea (this is why some hotels in the Riviera Maya shut off many of their outdoor lights during nesting season). Just sit back and observe a miracle of nature, the memories will last forever. Report the event to your hotel or security staff to ensure that the nest is protected as soon as possible. Through education, awareness and the continued efforts of humans who care, the sea turtles will be around for millennia to come.
If you would like to help the sea turtles, please contact the Tortugranja on Isla Mujeres turtfarm@cancun.com.mx or the CEA in Akumal
Happy Birthday to Robert the Baby Manatee!
// June 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // Locations, News, Riviera Maya, Sea Life
May 30th, 2009, Dolphin Discovery received a call from Ecosur to come to the assistance of a baby manatee discovered alone in a river in the state of Yucatan. He was only one or two days old and had been abandoned by his mother, without help there was no way he was going to survive. A team of veterinarians and marine biologists from Dolphin Discovery hurried to rescue this sweet creature and brought him to the facilities in Puerto Aventuras in a critical state. He was dubbed “Tuuch”, the Mayan word for “belly button” as his umbilical cord was still attached.
Tuuch was introduced to Julieta in Puerto Aventuras, a mature female manatee who was still nursing her one year old baby. Despite efforts to get Tuuch to nurse, Julieta could not produce enough milk and the team had to resort to bottle feeding the baby manatee to provide him the nutrients he so desperately needed. Over the next few months, the veterinary team monitored Tuuch, treating digestive issues and continuing with the bottle feeding. Despite his failure to grow over the first two months, the team did not give up, they gave him the highest levels of medical care, nutrition, stimulation and love, working with him 24 hours a day. He learned to socialize with the other manatees who accepted him into their little family and he learned how to play, he loves his toys! By September, he began eating lettuce and vegetables and a whole new world opened to this beautiful little guy. In January of 2010, he was able to permanently join the other manatees in their lagoon in Puerto Aventuras and he continued to improve and thrive. In February he was renamed “Robert” after head veterinarian Dr. Roberto Sanchez.
In November the Dolphin Discovery “Team Tuuch” was honoured by IMATA, receiving awards and recognition for their team work and conservation efforts with their rescued manatee. All of us at Dolphin Discovery are proud of the team, we are grateful for their expertise and tireless dedication in the rehabilitation of Robert.
One year later and Robert is doing great! He’s participating in encounters with our guests, eating well and continuing to grow. This week Dolphin Discovery threw a little party for Robert, bringing him a cake of lettuce and fruit, singing “Happy Birthday” and inviting local school children to join in the festivities. Local artist Allan Vazquez created a beautiful portrait of Robert and invited the children to add their handprints for posterity. We wish Robert a very happy birthday and many, many more!
Join us in Puerto Aventuras for our Sea Life Circle Manatee program and you can get a kiss from our dear Robert! Enjoy some time swimming with him, giving him a hug and share a little lettuce with him. He will welcome you with open flippers!
Please take a moment to enjoy this video dedicated to Tuuch/Robert, it’s a moving journey of love, dedication and hope….
“Por la Libre 2010″ a Huge Success
// June 2nd, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News
Por la Libre- The Race Begins
Saturday May 29th, 6:30 am and it is already hot in Cancun. There is excitement and tension in the air as more than 500 anxious athletes await the start of the 10 km open water race from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. This is the fifth annual “Por la Libre” and it’s a gorgeous day for it, sunshine, no wind, no waves, just crystal clear turquoise waters and blue skies. The swimmers hit the water at Punta Cancun and the race begins, with a flotilla of boats, kayaks and jet skis following along to ensure the safety of the athletes and to cheer them on to the finish at Garrafon Park on Isla Mujeres.
Por la Libre 2010 Finish Line at Garrafon Park
As the swimmers make their crossing, supporters head to Garrafon and the organizational teams take their places at the finish line. The recovery area is set up with refreshments, the massage tables are in place and the offical time keepers are ready to receive the finishers. The radios start to buzz as the first swimmer is seen approaching the island, the excitement mounts and the cameras start clicking! First out of the water with an incredible time of 1 hour and 33 minutes is 17 year old Fernando Betanzos, a proud moment for this incredible young athlete. Finishing first overall for the women’s category is Alejandra Merizalde with a great time of 1 hour and 43 minutes, another young swimmer from the 15-19 year old group.
Fernando Betanzos first to the finish line
It was an exciting day to be at Garrafon, the swimmers were greeted with rounds of applause as they exited the water and crossed the mat. Racers and their fans enjoyed the shady hammock garden, lounged in the pool and sated their appetites with icy cold drinks and a tasty lunch. Many took advantage of the calm waters to snorkel the reef and go for a spin in the kayaks on this beautiful day.
Televisa Verde presenting mangrove plants
“Por la Libre 2010″ is pleased to announce that for the first time the race was done to benefit a great cause. Televisa Verde donated 6000 mangrove plants in the names of the first 200 registered swimmers, with the goal of revitalizing the Nichupte Lagoon which suffered serious damage during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Dolphin Discovery and Garrafon Park are proud to be sponsors and we would like to congratulate all the athletes and give thanks to Televisa Verde for their contribution to the ecology of Cancun. Thanks and special congratulations to Rafa and Carmen from Starc Producciones for organizing this great event, let’s do it again soon!
Interview with a Dolphin Trainer
// May 31st, 2010 // View Comments // About Dolphins, Cancun / Isla Mujeres, News, Riviera Maya
Dolphin Discovery’s trainers are used to hearing “You’ve got the best job in the world!” from guests and this week I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our trainers to find out if indeed that is the case. Alex Mata invited me to experience life as a trainer for a morning and was gracious enough to sit down with me and tell me about himself and his life as a marine animal trainer.
Alex Mata is the Corporate Educative Trainer for Dolphin Discovery. He’s originally from Spain and began his career in Europe before coming to Dolphin Discovery in Mexico six years ago. He chose Dolphin Discovery for its outstanding corporate training department with over 100 educational courses, an ideal place to develop and grow in his career. He now works alongside expert veterinarians and biologists who push everyone to be better trainers and better people, something that sets Dolphin Discovery apart from other organizations in the world. With his expertise, knowledge and true passion for the animals and the organization, he is now in a position to train the trainers and realize his dream of devoting his life to marine animals.
We asked our fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter to post their questions for Alex, here’s what we discovered.
1. How do you become a dolphin trainer? What makes a good dolphin trainer?
First and foremost, being a dolphin trainer is not a job, it is a career and a calling. It is not necessary to have a degree, though it is beneficial to have studied marine biology, veterinary medicine or psychology. Trainers must have excellent swimming skills, a love for dolphins, the ability to speak English, a great personality for customer service and most importantly, passion. It takes about three years to obtain the title of “Trainer”, with hours spent in educational courses, 1 1/2 years as an apprentice and 1 1/2 years as an assistant. Dolphin Discovery has approximately 100 different educational courses and trainers are required to constantly be expanding their knowledge and improving their skills. Long days, hard work, sleepless nights, hot sun and pouring rain, the work isn’t always easy but for those who truly love what they do, it’s always a pleasure.
2. Do you love the dolphins? What’s the best experience you’ve had at Dolphin Discovery?
Alex smiled when I asked these questions and replied quickly to the first with an “Of course, absolutely!”. For the second question he pondered for a moment and then replied “Swimming with ten baby dolphins at the same time in Puerto Aventuras”. He described the ten babies as super playful, swimming circles around him, vocalizing loudly and teasing him into joining in their games.
3. How do you communicate with the dolphins? Can you tell if a dolphin is happy/sad/angry?
Since humans have yet to be able to translate the language of dolphins, the trainers communicate with them through body language, hand gestures and whistles. The dolphins regard the whistle as a “reward”, for them it means “Good job!” and they love to hear it. Dolphins express their emotions through their own body language and vocalizations, each in their own way. Once a trainer gets to know a particular dolphin, they can see when they are feeling excited or are getting frustrated, if they are eager to play or if they prefer to be left alone.
4. What’s the worst part of the job?
Being in Cancun during hurricane season adds extra pressure to the staff to work together, think quickly and stay calm as they move the animals to a safe environment. The dolphins come first, as a dolphin trainer at Dolphin Discovery you are commited to the animals and in an emergency they are the number one priority.
5. After feeding fish to the dolphins all day, do you still enjoy eating fish?
“Ummmm, no, I don’t eat fish anymore.”
6. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
It seems Alex’s home life is not that much different from his work life. He lives in Cancun with his girlfriend (also an animal trainer, specializing in birds) and their 2 dogs, a chameleon, an iguana, a cockatoo, a macaw and 3 toucans and spends his days off hanging at home with the animals.
So, is it the best job in the world? It sure seems that way! Alex spoke enthusiastically about his “family” at Dolphin Discovery, he eagerly answered even my most basic questions and he patiently walked me through the routines of the day. It was an honor for me to spend time with someone so knowledgeable and so obviously in love with dolphins (and manatees and sea lions and stingrays and sharks and animals in general!) I learned so much and am inspired by his passion, thank you so very much Alex, can we do it again soon?
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