“IMATA? What does that mean?” How can aquarium, zoos, and marine mammal parks help raise the public consciousness of environmental issues and drive action, especially those that may result in the loss of animals or their habitats?… Read More
Again, I think they have to work together in a concerted effort, in a way, similar to this new SAFE program where they’ve earmarked within AZA, you know, “Let’s take care of the South African penguin, let’s take care of sharks and let’s take care of certain species. Let’s focus… Read More
I mean, who cares?… Read More
The alliance is a small organization. They do a very good job keeping themselves informed and fighting some of these legislative issues with the facts and science and things like that. So they’re doing a little bit more a concerted effort because they’re marine mammal focused. IMATA is also doing… Read More
So, in essence, they’re sort of the watchdogs of the trainers’ world, which is good, and we need more of that. Read More
But, again, the public?… Read More
So what do you think AZA should be doing then?… Read More
I think they should be supporting all animals, all institutions, and raising the poorer ones up out of the gutters and having some sort of mentorship program so that everybody’s playing on a fair playing ground and the quality of care is the same everywhere. It’s just gotta be more… Read More
Should IMATA or the alliance be doing anything different to communicate their message regarding maintaining marine mammals?… Read More
I think they should be addressing their brands, improving their brands with the public. I think they should work together instead of working apart. That’s what they’re doing, they’re not working together at all hardly. They’re trying to on occasions, but it doesn’t seem to ever gel. The public doesn’t… Read More
They don’t know what that means. So I think it’s important for the image to be united, and I think they need to have a very effective program out there talking to the public and doing public service announcements. “We are this and this, and this what we do. We… Read More
Do you think AZA has done enough in supporting the aquariums and facilities holding marine mammals?… Read More
No, not at all. Not at all. That’s why the alliance was formed, because AZA didn’t wanna help with the reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act back in 1984. The alliance was formed. Again, it’s you can’t stick your head in the ground, because this isn’t a dolphin issue. Read More
I think that would be wonderful to show people, especially ’cause how many people have seen it?… Read More
But they can also see, again, I think they should be able to see it in the context of the live animal woofing, making noise, vocalizing, swimming, eating, so you can connect it, again, to be, “This is real. This is what happens. Read More
This is part of their life too, but I can’t see this right now.” From your philosophical hat, what issues would you like to see the AZA, IMATA, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums be addressing now?… Read More
Is anybody doing that where you bring the wild, just what you’re saying, to them?… Read More
Or is that something that has not been explored in this manner?… Read More
No, it’s been explored. I think it’s being done in a few places. And I think and I think it’s a good thing to have. I think having a webcam on a pending birth is a good thing to have, because people are never gonna see it. I mean, watching… Read More
You’ll see a miniature walrus come out, except for the tusks. I mean, it’s uncanny. And the thing weighs 100 pounds. Read More