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Marine Mammal Training
Overview
Since it's opening in 1971, millions of people have come to Sea World to see marine mammals perform in shows. Our visitors have the unique opportunity to observe and learn directly from our animals which in turn increases public awareness about Australian marine wildlife. The care of Sea World's marine mammals is closely intertwined with training. Training assists Veterinarian and Curatorial staff to form a more complete picture of an animal's health. The training of marine mammals is a process which has developed in Australia over the last 30 years and continues to grow in sophistication. With a beginning that relied heavily on trial and error, marine mammal training has progressed rapidly due to the theories of operant psychology. This science has provided the means for trainers to condition marine mammals on the basis of positive reinforcement for success rather than punishment for mistakes. The following is an overview of the training philosophies that are employed with the marine mammal collection at Sea World.
