Making More than Just a Memory: An Article by the AMMPA (Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums)

Each year, millions of children, such as Katrina Simpkins of Indiana, patronize zoos and aquariums like Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (Photo by Katrina Simpkins).

National Poll Finds Accredited Marine Parks, Aquariums and Zoos Best Places for Children to Learn About, Connect with Marine Mammals. Children have a natural curiosity about dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. The best way for parents to encourage this interest – and to inspire a lifelong passion for wildlife conservation – is to log kids off the computer and visit an accredited marine park, aquarium or zoo, where learning best happens. That’s according to a new national public opinion poll that says the public strongly believes seeing and experiencing live animals is the best way for children to learn about marine mammals. Released today by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, the survey of more than 1,000 adults found that97 percent of people agree that marine life parks, aquariums and zoos are important because they educate children about marine mammals–animals that children might not have the opportunity to see in the wild.

Ninety-four percent of those polled agree that children are more likely to be concerned about animals if they learn about them at marine life parks, aquariums and zoos, and that visiting these facilities can inspire conservation action that can help marine mammals and their ocean environments. The poll, conducted by Harris Interactive®, also found that 94 percent of people agree that zoological parks and aquariums offer valuable information about the importance of oceans, bodies of water and the animals that live there. Parks provide important interactions that are a critical first step in promoting kids to take action to help animals and their habitats,”said Marilee Menard, executive director of the Alliance.

Additionally, the poll found that 89 percent agree that children learn more about marine mammals at an aquarium or zoo than in a school classroom, and 88 percent agree that you can learn about animals at marine parks in a way that can’t be replicated by watching film or TV programs. Some 91 percent agree that seeing a marine mammal at these facilities fosters a connection to the animal. When children – and adults – see and experience the excitement of being close to marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and sea lions, it resonates in ways that even the most vividly illustrated book or video cannot. It is an emotionally enriching experience that fosters a sense of caring for these animals and their ocean environments,” said Menard, whose Alliance membership represents 48 accredited facilities that account for the greatest body of experience and knowledge about marine mammal care and husbandry in the world.
Other findings from the new public attitude survey include:

• 40 percent of Americans (about 125 million people) have visited a marine park, aquarium or zoo in the last 12 months, including 56 percent of households with children (about 20 million households).

• 94 percent believe the people who care for the animals at marine life parks,aquariums and zoos are committed to the welfare of the animals.

• 7 percent (ages 18-24) would be interested in swimming with dolphins.

• 93 percent believe that many of the successes to save endangered or declining species are at least in part a result of work done in marine life parks, aquariums and zoos.
90 percent agree that species in the wild benefit when their biology and physiology is studied in marine life parks, aquariums and zoos.

•90 percent believe that interacting with dolphins in a marine life park, aquarium or zoo offers people a deeper understanding and appreciation of this mammal.

We pride ourselves on providing an educational and enjoyable experience for families,” Menard said. “Professionals at Alliance member institutions work every day to inspire guests of all ages to share their commitment to marine mammals, the need to protect them in the wild and to conserve ocean habitats.”

Methodology: 

Harris Interactive® conducted the study online on behalf of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums between Aug. 29 and Sept. 6, 2011 among a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,011 U.S. adults ages 18 and over. The data were weighted where necessary to be representative of the total U.S. adult population on the basis of age, sex, race/ethnicity, education,region and household income. The propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums is an international association of 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.

A very special thanks to Lindsey Lucenta for providing this article which was written by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Thanks again Lindsey.

~Jenna~

Dolphins in Danger: The Maui’s Dolphin

A pod of Maui Dolphins (Also known as the "Northern Hector's Dolphin) off the coast of New Zealand

The Maui’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) is one of the world’s rarest and smallest cetaceans on Earth. It can only be found exclusively in the shallow coastal waters of New Zealand. One full grown animal may measure in at about 1.4 meters and weight in at around 50 kilograms. In fact, these animals are no bigger than a small human child. Maui Dolphins are easily distinguished by their black facial markings, short stocky bodies, and their mouse ear-shaped dorsal fins.

Maui's Dolphins tend to swim closer to shore unlike the Hector's Dolphin, which lives usually 9 to 27 kilometers from shore.

Identified as a subspecies of the Hector’s dolphin in 2002, Maui’s Dolphins are found in shallow coastal waters off New Zealand’s North Island along it’s western shores. The majority of the sightings of these animals have mainly been between Manuka Harbor and Raglan Harbor, North Island, NZ. Maui’s tend to swim close to the shore line, making them more at risk of becoming entangled in fishing nets. During the Southern Winter months (June-September), the dolphins are distributed between the shoreline and 7.5 kilometers offshore while in the summer months (December-March), they are usually seen much closer to the shore.

Maui's Dolphins live in small pods that range in size from two to eight animals.

Maui’s Dolphins live in small pods that range in size from two to eight animals. Pod membership is usually fluid because pod mates mix freely from other pods.These animals are well known for their playful and acrobatic behaviors such as blowing bubbles, playing with seaweed, or surfing the waves. However, they do spend most of their time foraging for food underwater. They have been known for taking short dives for up to 90 seconds. During that time, the animals may be finding or catching fish and squid by using echolocation in mid-water.  However, they have been sighted feeding near the surface of the water.

Maui's Dolphin Mother and Calf

Females do not breed until they are at least 7-9 years of age. Although the gestation period for these animals in not known, calves are said to be born around the southern spring and early southern summer, from November to mid-February. Calves will stay with their mother for up to two years and begin to feed on fish for the first time when they are at least six months old. Over the course of her 20-year lifespan, a mother Maui dolphin may give birth to only four calves, but that is not enough to keep a dangerously low population of only 100 dolphins growing beyond %2 due to the ever increasing deaths by human impact.

This Maui's Dolphin is one of many dolphins that die due to entanglement.

Because they live close to shore, Maui’s dolphins are at great risk of dying by entanglement and boat strikes. Deaths by entanglement in both recreational and commercial gill and trawl nets have been recognized by both New Zealand’s Ministry of Fisheries and the New Zealand Department of Conservation as the biggest threat the animals face. What happens is the dolphins would be detecting their prey using echolocation when the fish passes the nets, the dolphins simply, just get to close to them because these fishing nets are not picked up by the echolocation and thus, the dolphin may try to swim through it as a way to find prey before getting themselves entangled. Once entangled, they cannot release themselves from the nets, and thus, they drown within a matter of minutes.

There area a number of efforts being done to protect Maui's and other dolphin species in New Zealand.

What is being done to protect both the Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphins?…….

1. Long term radio tag surveys are helping researchers understand their daily migration patterns and harbor uses
2. Researchers have conducted the relationship between boats, human swimmers, and dolphins to determine the long term impact it has on animals.
3. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation has encouraged the public to call their dolphin sighting hotline if they site either a dead or live dolphin.
4. Educating the public about the plight of these endangered dolphins

Let’s hope with all the efforts being made to help protect New Zealand’s Maui’s dolphins, the population will make a comeback and be around for generations to come. Till then, all we can do is hope and do our part in saving them.

When “The Cove” Lies

Nami, is a nearly forty-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who lives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. This facility is one of fourty-four marine life facilities in the United States and Mainland Europe that does NOT take any dolphins out of drive fisheries.

In March 2010, the documentary The Cove won an Oscar for “Best Documentary”. This film focuses on the slaughter of dolphins off the coast of Taiji, Japan.  While the killing of dolphins in Japan is pretty much real, the reasons behind it is completely deceptive. This is because, the filmmakers of the movie claim that most marine life facilities get their dolphins from Japan when truthfully, they do NOT! Below is a two part commentary that focuses on the inaccuracy statements made by dolphin extremist Ric O’Barry  film producer Fisher Stevens, and director, Louie Psihoyos.

• Since the making of these videos, it has been alleged by activist groups that 15 dolphins were imported into Turkey from Japan, and several more into two former Soviet ruled countries in eastern Europe.
• Sea Shepherd’s “Cove Guardians” have cited that NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has granted SeaWorld San Diego a permit to import a young male pilot whale named Argo.  Keep in mind that Argo stranded as a neonate and alone in Moriya Seashore of Katsuura City, Japan on January 10th, 2004. He was NOT collected from any drive fishery or otherwise the permit would have been denied.
• In 2010, Ocean World, a dolphin facility in the Dominican Republic, filed a lawsuit against Ric O’Barry after being defamed during a CNN interview.
• As of 2011 only one drive-fishery animal resides in the US. It’s a female false killer whale named Kina. She was originally imported by the US Marine Mammal Navy Program from Ocean Park in Hong Kong in 1987. She was later sent to the Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology  in 2000.
• An attempt by one US aquarium to acquire false killer whales from a 1993 drive fishery was blocked by the US National Marine Fisheries as they considered such operations to be inhumane. This eventually led to an effective ban on imports of drive fishery animals into the US.

However, there are several facts that remain………….

• Asia and the Middle East are the two active markets for Japanese dolphins. However, the main markets are in Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan.
• The Japanese drive fisheries pre-date aquariums by almost 350 years. It began in the year 1606 for the purposes of pest control and human consumption. However, archaeological records show that the drive fisheries go back as early as 8-9,000 years ago during prehistoric times.
• Even if eastern marine life facilities stop acquiring dolphins from drive fisheries, Japanese fishermen would still kill dolphins for the purposes of both pest-control and human consumption.
• Less than 8% of all dolphins caught in drive fisheries are sold to aquariums. The rest are killed in the hands of Japanese fishermen.
• Ric O’Barry was not the first person to expose Japan’s drive fishery practices. It was first revealed by National Geographic in 1979 and three years later by filmmaker and dolphin conservation advocate Hardy Jones and the Cousteau family in a 1982 TV documentary.
• No wild dolphin has been collected from the wild for a US facility since 1989 . It’s been three decades sine any dolphin has been imported from a drive fishery to a facility in Western Europe. The reason why many western marine life facilities have not obtain collection permits since the 1980’s is due to the success of captive breeding programs.
• Both the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and the Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) prohibit any of their accredited facilities from taking  any animal from drive fisheries. Accredited  marine zoological facilities in the western hemisphere from Alaska to Argentina do not support, fund, nor acquire dolphins from the Japanese drive fisheries.
• Much like the evolution of marine wildlife conservation awareness in the United States, only education and a changing values towards cetaceans, including dolphins, will bring an end to a three-century-old inhumane cultural hunt.

Money for The Aquarium: It Does Not Come Out of Thin Air

Rebel, a rescued endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle who was rescued by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

For any zoological facility, including Clearwater Marine Aquarium, money does not come out of thin air. In fact, many zoos and aquariums rely solely on donations they receive. They are non-profit organizations that dedicate themselves to wildlife conservation, research, and education on every level. But, what do with all the money they receive from the public? The answer is the following:

• Animal Care
• Maintaining Animal Exhibits and Enrichment
• Current Conservation and Education Programs
• Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Programs
• Salaries for Employees

You might hear from extremists about marine life facilities being “bad”. In reality, as much as every zoo and aquarium would love to house beloved animals such as dolphins and manatees to teach people about them, only a handful of facilities in the world house them because caring for them can be extremely expensive. In fact,  facilities pay thousands of dollars to provide the food, health care, habitat needs, and enrichment that are all needed to give a captive animal all of its suitable needs. In order to pay for all the needs of their animals, they have get that money from ticket prices, food and merchandise receipts, and direct donations.

Donations come in good handy to help zoos and aquariums support both animal care and conservation programs

The question is that many people ask me is this:Why Do people Support Zoos and Aquariums?

• Zoos and aquariums spends more than $70 million on conservation, research, and educational projects worldwide
• More than 19 species have been saved from extinction ranging from giant pandas, to California Condors by zoological professionals.
• Zoological facilities respond to a handful of rescue cases each year.
• Zoos and aquariums continue to educate the public on conservation awareness. They believe that conservation can only be born through education and a change in heart towards all wildlife.

So please, the next time, you visit a zoo or aquarium, be sure you leave them a donation to help continue their tireless work to make the world a better place for generations to come.

~Jenna~

First Post: A Little Talk About Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Education has always been one of CMA's missons

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a marine life hospital, and non-profit organization with a motto says “rescue, rehab, release”. The facility’s root go back to 1953 when a marine life museum called “Sea-O-Rama”, which was located on Clearwater Beach, displayed fish that were native to Florida waters. About ten years later, an interest in having an aquarium that displayed live animals began to take it’s shape. In 1972, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium opened to the public for the first time as a marine science center after the city of Clearwater donated a former water treatment plant to the facility. But, it was not until the mid 1908’s that it started to house resident rescued dolphins.  in 1984, Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s first resident dolphin Sunset Sam, became the first surviving stranded dolphin in Florida after he was rescued by it’s rescued team. He was known for his ability to paint and work with disabled children. He died in December 2001.

Today, it is now identified to as a marine animal hospital that rescues, rehabilitates, and release cetaceans, otters, and sea turtles in need. If the animals are not releasable, then sometimes they are given a permanent home at Clearwater Marine Aquarium where they serve as the aquarium’s ambassadors. They also do a lot of work on sea turtle conservation such as monitoring turtle nests in beaches of Pinellas County, FL as well as rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick and injured sea turtles. In 2009, CMA reported over 138 nests all over beaches in Pinellas County. Recently, they have been religiously involved in the January 2010 strandings of a number of cold-stunned turtles who have fallen victim to the unseasonable cold temperatures in Florida. Jojo, was the first of those cold-stunned turtles to be successfully released on February 2, 2010. In the summer of 2010, CMA took in six sea turtles that were inflicted by the BP’s April 20th Deep Water Horizon Gulf Coast Oil Spill Disaster. After the turtles received a second rehabilitation and check up exam, they were soon released in waters off Southwest Florida. They were not alone during this project; they also assisted by rescue staff from aquariums from all over Florida.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium also has six different interaction programs that allow guests to meet their dolphin collection up-close. They include the Dolphin Encounter, Dolphin Trainer Experience, Trainer for a Week, Paint with Winter, Wade with Dolphins. The prices range from the $50 Paint with Winter to the $950 Trainer for a Week Program. The Dolphin Trainer Experience also allows guests to take part in a training session with the river otters too and learn about what it takes to care for these playful animals. These programs are just some ways that allow the public to connect with marine animals in a whole new way.