Hi!
I know it has not been a week since my last post but I have a few updates for everyone. On Monday, my roommates and I went to Pearl Harbor. It was amazing to see something that is so important to our history. I did not know what to expect and I did not realize that the USS Arizona is still under the water in the place where it sunk. I was so glad I had a chance to see something on the island.
Other than that it has just been more working. I have just been cleared to give my penguin lecture to the park guests! This also means that I am now allowed to feed and station dolphins. Stationing a dolphin basically means that the dolphin is sitting calmly in front of you and focusing on you. I am also permitted to do a hand target with the dolphins. This is simply placing your flattened palm against the dolphins rostrum (the tip of their mouth). I am so excited to start feeding the dolphins, especially because it is going to allow me to become more involved with the dolphin training sessions. I will be directly supervised at all times in case there is a problem and the trainer needs to step in. I hope this will really help me understand more of the training and reasons behind why certain things are done.
I have also been moving forward with feeding the California sea lions. They are so cute and feeding them is one of the highlights of my day. I can give guests the briefing about the sea lion feeding pool but I still can not work the guests while they are feeding. Before I can work with guests who are feeding the sea lions I have to be able to feed each sea lion group on my own. There are 3 different sea lion groups. Today I feed the 3rd group of sea lions by myself at 9:30 and 10:30. This group includes Palanehe (female), Hanapa'a (male), and Pohaku (male). The hardest part about feeding all 3 at the same time is making sure that they sit in their spots and focus on me. Hanapa'a is dominant so he tends to try and steal Palanehe's fish. It was fun though and hopefully I will be cleared to feed all of the sea lion groups soon.
I guess those are all of the updates I have for now. I have a lot of studying to do because I will be taking an exam within the next week or so. I hope everyone is doing well!
3 comments:
That sounds like so much fun! I remember when I went to Seaworld years ago and I got to feed a dolphin a frozen fish snack how fun it really was. It is truly amazing how connected with nature we are. It is always nice to find someone who cares about animals as much as they truly deserve. Great blog! :D
You passed the penguin lecture. Yeah! It sounds like you are already learning a lot about the animals you are working with. The sea lions sound a lot like the cats. The dominant one-Honey. The quiet one-Lady, etc. How is the tan? How are the arm muscles from washing buckets? Missing you but SOOOO glad you are having fun.
Mom
Dear Kat,
This is (aunt) Brenda. Alright, I want to know what type of chair dolphins and sea lions sit on? But to be honest, I am so-o-o-o evious!
Why do seal lions make kissy noise? By the way why do some sea lions sit on the rocks while others are swimming? Go diving, have fun, e-mail for money if needed! I really would not like to see you but not at 4:00 AM! Know that your family loves and misses you but we are happy you are learning so much! Love Brenda
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