Like many of my dear friends and colleagues I have had the honor to train marine mammals and build relationships with many individual species of Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenea. I have also had the opportunity during the last 23 years to work side by side with other trainers from many different cultures and languages and have had the extreme good fortune to teach students from just as many cultures and languages. With this level of exposure I have learned all sorts of valuable lessons with one making the top of the list and that is RESPECT.
I have personally witnessed countless times how these animals living under our care teach our guests, staff and students respect for the planet we all live in. By sharing these wonderful dolphins, sea lions and manatees with others in a safe controlled environment, the animals themselves have touched the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens, from Russia, Iceland, Japan, Dubai and USA like no other teacher could. When we respect our planet and all of us who share this earth we have made steps towards working together to conserve what we love and need to survive.
I have always strongly believed that it has never been my job to tell others what to believe, nor to convert the non-believers. I do however strongly believe and practice through my involvement with marine mammal interactive programs at Dolphin Discovery and through my teaching workshops at ABC Animal Training that by means of transparency and ‘laying it all out there’ an open minded individual is has been educated and empowered to make their own judgments and decisions. It is note worthy that to this day I have not met one person after experiencing a marine mammal interactive program or spending days with our training workshops who has not walked away with a new respect and love of what we do and ask “what is it I can do to help?”
So my friends keep your eye on the prize, don’t be confused by the rhetoric of half-truths and clever edited versions of our jobs, we do what we do so that this generation and future generations can live in a planet that respects all living things. Be proud, lead by example, do more than what is expected because together we are working for something much greater than ourselves.
Keep Calm and Train On!