This isnt a training book so much as it is memoirs of training and related events. The shadow a trainer for a day program is the only dolphins plus marine mammal responder experience that invites participants to join a trainer during this private natural swim time. Recommended reading imata international marine animal. Research the education requirements, training information and experience required for starting a career in marine mammal training. Kittleson spent five years as a marine mammal trainer, with much of his time being spent at seaworld orlando. Oahu marine mammal trainer for a day dolphin quest. Spend the day sidebyside with marine mammal trainers and dolphins and participate in dolphin health exams, dolphin training sessions, dolphin play time and dolphin programs for guests. The reconnaissance and interdiction division at niwc pacific manages the navys marine mammal program which trains bottlenose dolphins and california sea lions to detect, locate, mark and recover objects in harbors, coastal areas, and at depth in the open sea. It currently has more than 2,000 members from more than 56 different countries. Marine mammal training is the training and caring for marine life such as, dolphins, killer whales, sea lions, walruses, and other marine mammals. Dec 07, 2012 buy starting your career as a marine mammal trainer 2 revised edition by samansky, terry s. Have you ever wondered what its really like to be a dolphin, sea lion or killer whale trainer. Reviewed in the united states on february 24, 2011. This book explains what you need to do in order to.
Youll be in the water with our dolphins and interacting with them from our docks. Marine mammals at vancouver aquarium require a great deal of specialized carethis is especially true for belugas and dolphins that are wholly aquatic. Dolphins plus marine mammal responder dolphin swim programs. Marine mammal trainers work with dolphins, whales, seals, sea lions, walruses, and other marine mammals.
The drc training institute offers a professional animal trainer certificate program to individuals currently in the marine mammal training profession and those with a minimum of 1 year training andor handling experience with terrestrial animals. The international marine animal trainers association, imata, is a professional group composed of persons active in the marine animal field and other individuals who are interested in marine mammals. He has almost 3 decades of experience in the animal welfare space and. United states navy marine mammal program wikipedia.
This book explains what you need to do in order to become a dolphin trainer or any other type of marine mammal trainer. There are also marine mammal training opportunities with the u. Must be able to obtain a secret security clearance. Just a short video with some advice for those aspiring marine mammal trainers out there. Marine mammal science training courses society for marine. The nineteenthcentury new york court case that put the whale on trial and challenged the order of nature hardcover by.
Observe a variety of programs and training scenarios. Below is a list of recommended books, however, you are welcome to source your own id book which you will need to have for use on the mmo training course. The tips and techniques provided in this book is what every aspiring marine mammal trainer needs to know. Apart from the actual training, trainers must keep uptodate records about the. How to become a trainer international marine animal trainer. Starting your career as a marine mammal trainer paperback by. A typical dolphin trainer salary is a little higher. History of clicker training i karen pryor clicker training. Marine mammal observer training courses jncc approved.
It is also a duty of the trainer to do mental and physical exercises to keep the animal healthy and happy. Most marine mammal trainers start by volunteering at an oceanarium or zoo. Be sure to click on the table of contents link to get a detailed look at what this unique book has to offer, including answers to the most popular questions trainers. Marine mammal trainers careers with marine mammals. How to become a trainer imata international marine.
For the best advice about a career in marine mammal training, contact the international marine animal trainers association. It was created by marine mammal trainer, kyle kittleson. The trainer for a day program also includes a photo to commemorate your experience, an official dolphins plus tshirt, and a book. This course offers students a unique opportunity to gain career oriented, handson experience under the guidance of. Join your trainer for lunch and receive career advice for future marine mammal training. Rice this is the standard for taxonomic usage in marine mammal science and a must for every serious marine mammal scientists library shelf or pdf collection.
The navy marine mammal program is based in san diego, california, as part of ssc san diego. Must be a united states citizen and be able to provide proof of citizenship. It provides step by step instructions on how to enter the competitive field of animal care. Marine mammal trainer page 5 how to become a dolphin trainer. This book tells you all you need to know to become a working marine mammal care professional from rescue, rehabilitation, and release, to shows, and training. How to train yourself to relax in the water, combat the difficulties of a wetsuit and salt. Visit payscale to research marine mammal trainer hourly pay by city, experience, skill, employer and more. Pursuing your career as a marine mammal trainer or whales, dolphins, and porpoises an identification guide. Dolphin books, killer whale books, animal training books, recommended by marine mammal trainers and care professionals. Oahu marine mammal trainer for a week dolphin quest. Marine mammal trainers are responsible for the animals mental and physical health. This is accomplished with the experience of our staff who have a wide range of knowledge and practical skills on an international level. We are often asked what books we buy for our own libraries and what we would recommend to students and others folks interested in marine mammals. Individualized time with the marine mammal trainer staff.
This behindthescenes look at careers in marine mammal care and training addresses questions such as what is it really like to be a trainer. Learn the basic principles of training from dolphin quest marine mammal trainers through instruction, observation and handson experiences. Marine mammal observer course, protect marine mammals from being injured or disturbed by offshore construction projects or seismic surveys by training to become a qualified mmo. Often people work in other departments, such as operations, maintenance, or education, before transferring to a job in animal training. Author and marine mammal trainer, kyle kittleson, has worked with. Dec 17, 2019 colleges and schools with marine animal training programs offer a variety of educational opportunities, from individual.
Lots of people want to be dolphin trainers, but not a lot of people know how to become a dolphin trainer. It is a fundamental requirement that all mmos have an id book not just for the training course but also as a reference guide on any job. So if becoming a marine mammal trainer or a dolphin trainer sound too good to be true, if you want to know how to become a dolphin trainer and if youre really serious about actually doing what it takes to make it a reality. Graduates from the class of 2004 are working training guide dogs in california, with marine mammals at sea world orlando, sea life marine park in hawaii, six flags marine world in vallejo, california. A trainer and consultant for nearly 40 years, ken ramirez is well regarded as a leader in the animal training world. A trainers job is to maintain and enhance the health and wellbeing of animals. Each chapter in this volume is written by a specialist author with extensive personal research experience of the species and provides a description of the species. Marine mammal trainer for a day program information. Apply to intern, zookeeper, research technician and more. Buy starting your career as a marine mammal trai ner 2 revised edition by samansky, terry s. Common majors for marine mammal trainers include animal science, marine biology, animal behavior, zoology, psychology, and biology. Books about whales, dolphins or other marine mammals.
Marine mammal trainer how to become a dolphin trainer. In order to be a great marine mammal trainer, you will need to make sure that you have the right education. Hawaii marine mammal trainer for a day dolphin quest. How you can become a marine mammal trainer was created for those aspiring to enter the competitive field of marine mammal. Recommended reading international marine animal trainer. Marine mammal trainer salary the united states salaryexpert. Recently, i was fortunate enough to sit down with dr.
Typically, these jobs are not highly paid, so anyone who goes into the field should do so because of other perks. Marine mammal training is a conditioning process through which animals receive mental stimulation, physical exercise and husbandry care. At dolphins plus marine mammal responder, trainers swim with the dolphins in private sessions throughout the day to help foster this relationship. Certain training techniques can be used as powerful tools for providing animals with high quality food, aquatic environments, structural habitats, social and. If you are serious about becoming a marine mammal trainer, this book is a musthave. Behind the scenes views, information and insights from real working marine mammal trainers and care professionals.
Grey stafford, the new president of the international marine animal trainers association. What the dog trainers are calling clicker training is an application of behavior analysis that was initially invented and developed more than thirty years ago, by keller breland, marian breland bailey, and bob bailey. Although their is no etched out educational path to becoming a marine mammal trainer, the minimum requirement is usually a bachelor of science degree in biology or marine biology. Apply to intern, marine and atmospheric science graduate programs at university of miami, assistant and more. Start off with the right education to become a dolphin trainer. Experts say that the more education one has about marine mammals, the easier it is to find a job in this field. Welcome to the marine mammal trainers facebook group. How you can become a marine mammal trainer was created to help those aspiring to enter the competitive field of marine mammal training. Dolphin connection has received multiple international awards recognizing us as leaders in the field of marine mammal care, training, breeding and education. Dolphin trainer for a day program in the florida keys.
Training is a way for us to communicate with them and to build a trusting relationship. Kittleson has spent more than five years compiling this book and believes it is the best resource available. Successful animal management through positive reinforcement, ken has selected and organized almost 600 pages of what in his opinion are the best papers, articles, and presentations on the. Apr 19, 2017 april 19, 2017 marine mammal science training courses by administrator account. May 21, 2019 advice for those aspiring to become a marine mammal trainer on how to successfully pass a swim test. While a college degree is not mandatory, its very difficult to become a marine mammal trainer without one. Training marine animals is a unique and exciting opportunity, but it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. American association of zoo keepers the animal behavior management alliance abma imata san diego zoo the marine mammal center society for marine mammalogy zoological association of america noaa fisheries service vancouver aquarium seaworld the association of zoos and aquariums dolphin research center dolphin discovery. Animal trainers are responsible for the total mental and physical health of the animals in their care. Jun 25, 2019 a marine mammal trainer may advance to supervisory positions, such as facility director or curator, though an advanced degree may be necessary for consideration at some institutions. This free, interactive and independent website has been conceived and designed by working marine mammal professionals to provide accurate, hard to find information and rare behind the scenes views and insights into the fascinating world of marine mammal care and training. This is literally play time which has proven to be very rewarding for both the trainer and the animal. The day culminates with an exhilarating in water dolphin experience. Marine mammal science training courses society for.
In addition to the training, marine mammal trainers also run play sessions. Weve inspired thousands of people to protect our marine habitat. We remember the childhood passion, and were still nurturing that deeplyembedded ambition. A marine mammal trainer would be able to train bahamas sea lions as well as learn about their species protection and conservation. As you probably know, there are a lot of books written on this very popular subject. Most employers, including those hiring for work in a bahamas dolphin encounter, will prefer trainers who have a formal education. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Marine mammals enjoy playing with a variety of toys, such as mats, hula hoops, and water hoses. The marine mammal observer training courses are about ensuring the acquisition of knowledge, attaining new skills and achieving of competencies. A trainer s job is to maintain and enhance the health and wellbeing of animals.
This book would probably be suited more toward early high schoolaged. This experience brings you upcloseandpersonal with dolphin cays sea lions, watching them cavort, bark and splash. Kittleson has worked at small and large marine facilities with penguins, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and killer whales. Youll have the opportunity to participate in one of our dolphin odyssey interactions. Lots of people want to be dolphin trainers, but not a lot of people know how to become a. How you can become a marine mammal trainer is a comprehensive resource for aspiring marine mammal trainers. Many marine mammal trainers are members of a professional marine animal group such as the international marine animal trainers association. Recommended reading international marine animal trainers.
Marine mammal care and basic training dolphinlab is an academically intensive, physically rigorous, sixday program specifically designed for students seriously interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal care and training. Imatas quarterly magazine features articles about training and other animal care. It first reached widespread use in the training of marine mammals, which is. How to pass a swim test advice for aspiring marine mammal. Todays top 365 marine mammal training jobs in united states. A minimum of 1 year animal training experience or 3 months of marine mammal care or training experience. Seaworld killer whale trainer responds to blackfish. Starting your career as a marine mammal trainer by terry s. The salary of a marine mammal trainer can vary significantly. How you can become a marine mammal trainer, provides you with the insight, knowledge, and information to make your dream becoming a marine mammal trainer a reality.
I wish something like this had been available to me when i was just starting out so here you go. This twoday jnccaccredited course combines theory and practice to give you a comprehensive introduction to life as an mmo and a professional qualification that certifies you to work in uk. The animal care and training internship with the navy marine mammal program is designed to give sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students a dynamic educational experience in the marine mammal field while offering valuable career experience. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in united states. Through our dolphin swim programs, classes and educational content, dpmmr, a 501c. Salary and benefits of marine mammal training career trend. Others are with various marine mammal facilities in the u. Another group is the society for marine mammalogy, which was founded in 1981. The dolphin research center training institute drcti was established by dolphin research center drc in 2012 in response to the limited availability of licensed professional educational programs that prepare individuals for careers regarding the behavior, care, and training of marine mammals. The interaction then takes you behind the scenes, where atlantis veterinarians and trainers feed and care for all of our marine mammals in one of the largest marine mammal.