So it was used for animal acquisition research, but also for education. A huge education tool where students could apply for a class and actually get as part of their class a trip on the boat over The Bahamas and see environments and, you know, snorkel and a truly immersive… Read More
We were able to design bigger and more, more numerous live wells to keep the animals alive during the collecting trip. Prior to shipping all the, you know, like the compressor for filling scuba tanks was upgraded twin diesel engines. It was really a nice, nice boat. It still is. Read More
Were you in charge as Director of collections?… Read More
And what was it used for?… Read More
First of all, the boat was used for several different operations of the She Aquarium. It was used by our conservation researchers that had work going in The Bahamas. So that, that grew in latter years. More importantly, it was used for specimen and collect collection in The Bahamas in… Read More
Can you give us a little, how did this come about and did you have the opportunity to use this boat?… Read More
Now I’m the veterinarian. I know what to do best. So finding that common ground and working together. So you had talked earlier about that the Shedd had a major sea going boat. Read More
And I remember they saw it at the research, I mean at the rescue facility. We saw it back at the aquarium where it would have a grand mal seizures and the trainers were trained what to do for the animal when they experienced this. So the animal, I mean,… Read More
Well, the director sent Ken Ramirez, myself up to Alaska. He says, I want you to be part of the Sea Otter rescue operation up there. Help ’em out. You know, you guys have good animal handling experience, da da da. So we ultimately worked at the Valdez facility and… Read More
So we had a number of very young pups and Terry Williams, one of the research scientists up there who was running that particular facility and happened to be a good friend, she says, as we’re getting ready to leave, she goes, how many otters do you wanna take with… Read More
I said, geez, I wish, you know. And I told her the situation. She goes, no, we’ve got 22 orphaned otters, we need homes for them. And that’s how we got our first four sea otters. And I was like, wow, fortuitous. And one of ’em actually Shanik was an… Read More
So I’m thinking, okay, where else can we go?… Read More
Yeah, yeah. Ultimately I oversaw that when it came to marine mammals, you know, we’re pretty well set. Although in time, you know, well, I should share with you the, the first four sea otters came to us as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We had this… Read More
So, so were you now responsible for the acquisition of all animals?… Read More
You know, and again, a very healthy relationship and they were able to fill me in and, you know, come to me with special budgetary requirements or requests, excuse me. And it was, again, I was at the senior management table at that point and it, it went really well. Read More
I mean, I could go to them at any time and say, Hey, what are we doing here?… Read More
It went well in actuality. There were only two curators, one of marine mammals, one of fishes, both of whom I had a wonderful working relationship with. We met on a regular basis. I got their input. You know, I I I really lost touch with a lot of the… Read More
This was a new position col instituted by the then director. A new director came on in 1994 and you know, for one reason or other he decided that he liked what I was doing and that he knew my background in fishes. And I had been in marine mammals… Read More
How did your management style work for dealing with a much bigger group of people?… Read More
Do you have to interview, how does this occur?… Read More