Marine Mammal Trainers

Showing posts with label JD. Show all posts

8/6/10

Friday Morning with the Fur Seals

At the Fur Seal Exhibit, the morning routine is fast paced for the training staff. Between 8:00 and 9:30 am we: Prepare 150 pounds of fish and squid for the seals, collect exhibit water samples for analysis, start the laundry, get dive gear ready, start hosing the seal poop from the exhibit deck, SCUBA dive to scrub the exhibit floor, and start the vacuum for yet more seal poop. Phew.

The fur seals have, shall we say, a more relaxed routine. Everyone starts waking up around 8:00 am. Some take until 10:30 to complete this task. Others jump up to greet the day and are ready for conversation. These pictures show Roxie relaxing in the sun and Taz looking like she wants at least another hour to snooze.

Taz

Roxie

This video below shows Ursula resting while making a rarely heard clicking sound.

Roxie is up and has a lot to say in this video. To me, her first vocalization sounds like a honk while the third and fifth sound like she is saying "Hey". I guess we'll never know.

Finally, Erin helps JD wake up with an invigorating neck scratch.

- Jenny

3/17/10

#158: Why I Love My Job

I get to be up close with JD's cute face everyday. JD was hauled out (on land) for most of the morning. When our training session started on the opposite side of the exhibit, she slowly, and I mean slowly, entered the shallow water and proceeded to do the seal version of a dog paddle on her way over. She kept her head above water the whole time and jumped on deck with her fur straight up. She still looks sleepy here while we compare noses.

-Rochelle

10/14/09

#145: Good Morning JD

This is JD shortly after waking up one morning. She rested most of the night on deck and you can see how dry and furry she really is.

-Rochelle

6/24/09

#133: Testing the Waters!

Yesterday Cordova and Ursula and J.D. arrived at the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center! They'll acclimate to the new environment before the exhibit opens to the public on July 1.

Photo from the Boston Herald.

The arrival was a quite a news event. There was a photographer there from the Boston Herald and a news crew from NECN. Here's the story they put on the air. Just hit play and wait for the ad to finish to see the fur seals' new home!

6/18/09

#130: Get Ready For JD!

With the opening of the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center fast approaching I wanted to give everyone a quick introduction to one of our soon to be newest residents. JD - short for 'Jimmy's Daughter'- is a 19 year old female Northern Fur Seal. She will be coming to us from New York Aquarium and joining Ursula and Cordova in our exhibit to start. She has a vast knowledge of behaviors and is keeping me on my toes in hopes of learning all of them before the big move. Be on the lookout for the newest female in the group when we open in July.

-Rochelle

Jenny	Kathy
Belinda	Kim
Patty	Paul
Vanessa	Lindsay
Erin W.	Meg

New England Aquarium