0:00:00.000,0:00:03.802
♪ (intro music) ♪

0:00:03.802,0:00:05.324
Enrichment and training programs

0:00:05.337,0:00:08.338
are ingrained in the work[br]that we do every day.

0:00:08.338,0:00:11.253
They're not extras,[br]they're not if we have time,

0:00:11.253,0:00:15.328
they are the baseline for animal care,[br]here at the Academy.

0:00:15.485,0:00:18.721
We have 38,000 animals under our care,

0:00:18.721,0:00:23.168
everything from leafcutter ants[br]to American alligator, to sharks.

0:00:23.516,0:00:25.087
That looks different[br]for everyone.

0:00:25.087,0:00:29.448
You're not going to have the same program[br]for an octopus than a leafcutter ant.

0:00:29.448,0:00:33.316
But we do take[br]all of their needs and conditions

0:00:33.316,0:00:36.586
that need to be met for them[br]to really thrive into consideration.

0:00:36.586,0:00:41.683
So, everything from naturalistic exhibits[br]and mixed-species exhibits

0:00:41.683,0:00:43.151
to formal training programs,

0:00:43.151,0:00:45.561
where we're focusing[br]on specific behaviors,

0:00:45.561,0:00:48.531
is to provide a lot of choices[br]within the environments

0:00:48.531,0:00:50.841
for the animals to choose from[br]on a daily basis.

0:00:51.560,0:00:53.183
Each one has its personality.

0:00:53.183,0:00:57.290
In fact, that's one of the easiest ways[br]we can distinguish between who's who.

0:00:57.290,0:01:01.081
Some of them are a little more shy,[br]Some will come up to you right away.

0:01:01.081,0:01:03.150
Some will hang out[br]with you the whole time.

0:01:03.150,0:01:06.018
Getting in with them is[br]probably the highlight of my week.

0:01:06.018,0:01:08.449
The minute we get in,[br]we're just surrounded by them,

0:01:08.449,0:01:10.726
whether they want[br]a little scratch on the nose

0:01:10.726,0:01:13.319
or to be kind of pet on the head.

0:01:13.319,0:01:16.017
They like that interaction,[br]even when there's no treat.

0:01:16.017,0:01:19.717
We not only take care of the rays,[br]we monitor their diets.

0:01:19.717,0:01:22.304
We'll put different objects[br]in their habitat

0:01:22.304,0:01:23.822
just to keep things different.

0:01:23.822,0:01:26.444
In the wild, their habitat would be[br]constantly changing,

0:01:26.444,0:01:30.134
and that keeps their mind moving,[br]active and curious.

0:01:30.134,0:01:31.424
♪ (music) ♪

0:01:31.424,0:01:34.957
Every morning, we do enrichment[br]during the feeding programs.

0:01:34.957,0:01:37.807
For the scale training,[br]they're stepping up onto the scale.

0:01:37.807,0:01:39.991
We can see[br]if their weight is fluctuating.

0:01:39.991,0:01:43.258
For they can't talk to us,[br]we don't know if they're not feeling well,

0:01:43.258,0:01:46.742
if they're getting sick,[br]so weight decreases and eating less food

0:01:46.742,0:01:48.970
is really important for us[br]to talk to our vet

0:01:48.970,0:01:51.340
and see what he thinks might be going on.

0:01:51.340,0:01:52.736
Enrichment can be anything

0:01:52.736,0:01:57.749
from putting logs and rocks[br]in the exhibit, or nesting material.

0:01:57.749,0:02:00.184
I'll hand it out[br]and they'll grab it with their beak

0:02:00.184,0:02:01.981
and then bring it back to their nest.

0:02:01.981,0:02:05.214
We want to have changes in there,[br]something new in their environment

0:02:05.214,0:02:07.487
or that stimulates their brain[br]in a certain way.

0:02:07.697,0:02:10.928
The enrichment's definitely important[br]for our personal relationship,

0:02:10.929,0:02:14.352
so they can trust me more,[br]I can trust them a little bit more.

0:02:14.352,0:02:16.352
They know that I'm not trying[br]to hurt them.

0:02:16.352,0:02:17.414
♪ (music) ♪

0:02:17.414,0:02:21.534
Training is really building a language[br]between you and an animal.

0:02:21.534,0:02:23.500
We can't ask them questions,

0:02:23.500,0:02:26.411
so we have to find a way[br]to communicate with each other

0:02:26.411,0:02:31.738
to identify what we want from them[br]and what they want and need from us, too.

0:02:31.738,0:02:34.102
It allows us to actually[br]move them back and forth

0:02:34.102,0:02:35.699
between their night quarters,

0:02:35.699,0:02:39.078
and, when they're on exhibit[br]during the day, in the Rainforest.

0:02:39.078,0:02:44.443
Another example of their training program[br]is nail trimming or clippings.

0:02:44.443,0:02:47.202
That's a routine part of their care

0:02:47.202,0:02:49.923
and makes veterinary exams[br]a little easier.

0:02:50.744,0:02:52.595
Other programs include some fun,

0:02:52.595,0:02:56.892
and with macaws it's usually[br]related to chewing and food.

0:02:56.892,0:02:58.311
They're natural chewers,

0:02:58.311,0:03:03.446
they forage all day long in the forests[br]looking for fruits and seeds and nuts.

0:03:03.446,0:03:06.723
So we give them browse[br]that we cut out of the Rainforest.

0:03:06.723,0:03:09.025
I also love giving them puzzle toys,

0:03:09.025,0:03:12.844
so I actually hide parts of their food,[br]or treats like nuts,

0:03:12.844,0:03:14.726
in items that they have to manipulate

0:03:14.726,0:03:16.851
and try to figure out[br]how to get them out of.

0:03:16.851,0:03:18.761
That's really good stimulation for them.

0:03:18.761,0:03:19.559
♪ (music) ♪

0:03:19.559,0:03:21.028
It's really fantastic.

0:03:21.028,0:03:24.517
Having to problem solve,[br]to make sure that the animals in your care

0:03:24.517,0:03:26.841
are truly receiving[br]the highest quality care

0:03:26.841,0:03:28.662
is really exciting,

0:03:28.662,0:03:32.353
and then to also be able to turn around[br]and share that with our guests,

0:03:32.353,0:03:35.603
to really let these[br]ambassador animals shine through

0:03:35.603,0:03:38.920
to educate and inspire everybody.

0:03:38.920,0:03:44.236
It really reinforces the idea that,[br]as living organisms, we're all connected,

0:03:44.236,0:03:47.943
we have so much in common,[br]and we're really not that different.

0:03:47.943,0:03:50.809
We all care about[br]where we're going to get our food,

0:03:50.809,0:03:53.635
do we have shelter,[br]all those important things.

0:03:53.635,0:03:56.353
It's really not different[br]for all of these creatures, too.

0:03:56.353,0:03:59.571
Watching that every day[br]kind of reestablishes that connection,

0:03:59.571,0:04:01.678
for me, to the rest of the living world.

0:04:02.062,0:04:05.354
♪ (music) ♪