Abstract

In a zoological setting, the care each animal receives is the best gift we can give, our greatest asset. Although the way that care is delivered has evolved through the years, animal health remains paramount. Facilities can be successful in ensuring the well being of their collection by adopting continually developing strategies that embrace advances in technique and medical equipment.

Current training advances include the conditioning handling of neonatal Tursiops sp. to obtain early bloodwork and facilitate administration of medication and monitoring of weight. The training of a manta ray to swim into a stretcher has made physical examinations possible. Blood sampling under stimulus control with sharks and rays permits stress-reduced collection of samples as well as collection of individual evaluations. The dissemination of current knowledge ensures that the training industry's evolution of well-rehearsed protocols for husbandry management will continue to complement all aspects of marine mammal display.

What the training of conditioned blood sampling in marine mammals was in the 1980's, and the training of conditioned urine sampling was in the 1990's, brings us to today's goal. We should strive to gain unrestrained access to all animals in the zoological setting and to facilitate the use of modern diagnostic equipment. Future training directions should include extensive use of lifting bottom pools, calm and controlled animal manipulation for radiology, endoscopy and ultrasound, and expanded training programs to include all marine mammals and all life stages, terrestrial mammals, birds, and fishes.

Acknowledgements

IMATA would like to acknowledge and thank all facilities that support and provide opportunities through which marine animal trainers can exchange and disseminate current knowledge, research, and other information in a professional and social setting.