Abstract

Captive marine mammals benefit from thoughtful exhibit design and well-designed life support systems. Aging facilities may be challenged with crumbling infrastructure and antiquated life support systems. When designing new facilities or refurbishing older ones, a number of factors should be considered. Pool and surrounding surfaces, shade, space, air quality, water quality, and noise are all important to address to ensure optimal housing for the animals.

Older facilities are often challenged with peeling paint and fragmenting concrete surfaces and may require constant maintenance. When designing or refurbishing enclosures, the materials used for the pool and haul-out surfaces should be durable and able to withstand saltwater environments. Pool surfaces and surrounding areas must be non-reflective colors to prevent excessive UV light exposure to the animals. Surrounding structures should be engineered to prevent them from absorbing and reflecting excessive heat back into the enclosure. Drain covers must be checked frequently and secured.

Strategic shade should be provided to ensure animals are never forced to look up at the bright sky or sun for feeding or training activities. Well-designed shade structures that drain away from the pools and are cleaned regularly to prevent pathogen build-up may help prevent some of the respiratory problems commonly seen in cetaceans and other marine mammals.^1,2

Adequate space for the animals to perform all their natural behaviors is important for mental and physical health. Having the ability to swim and dive freely, as well as ease of hauling out for pinnipeds and sea otters, are important design considerations.

Dry, dusty environments pose health risks, especially where high wind events are common. Appropriate indoor housing with methods to filter the air should be available to protect animals from exposure to airborne pathogens. Likewise, toxic vegetation, such as Sago palms or oleander, should not be planted in the vicinity of marine mammal pools.

When refurbishing or designing pools, ensure there are water jets or other methods to create currents to prevent areas of still-water dead zones within the pools. Replace rusty valves and older infrastructure whenever possible to avoid failures that could lead to poor water quality that could, in turn, threaten the health of the animals. For older facilities dependent on a single pump or impeller that is key to the operation of the life support system, a replacement part should be readily available. Life support systems must be designed to minimize oxidants and byproducts of disinfection while managing pathogens at acceptable levels.

Excessive noise may be stressful to marine mammals, especially cetaceans. Noise from construction or public events may create a negative environment for the animals. Regular use of hydrophones helps to determine if nearby noise could be affecting the health of the animals. The placement of new noise or vibration-generating features, such as theme park rides, should be carefully considered to protect the well-being of the resident marine mammals. Noise pollution often generated from rides and highways should also be considered in the planning phases of the placement of new marine mammal pools.

*Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  Gage, LJ, Francis-Floyd R. Environmental considerations. In: Gulland FMD, Dierauf LA, Whitman KL, eds. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine. 3rd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 2018:757–765.

2.  Colitz CMH, Bailey J, Mejia-Fava J. Cetacean and pinniped ophthalmology. In: Gulland FMD, Dierauf LA, Whitman KL, eds. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine. 3rd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 2018;517–536.