072018 Texas State Aquarium Animal Care Operations
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Dressed in a scuba suit and armed with a bucket of fish a dolphin trainer points out the distinguishing characteristics of the four bottlenose dolphins in front of her. Her audience isn't the normal group of tourists but 14 Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Science and Engineering (COSE) students who were part of the first-ever collaborative class between Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Texas State Aquarium (TSA).
During the new summer course, Island University students learned everything there was to know about what it takes to run an aquarium. The class, titled “Texas State Aquarium Animal Care Operations – a Look at Conservation, Welfare” consisted of lectures and behind the scenes interactions with the trainers and their animals. Students learned everything from how to identify a fertilized flamingo egg, how to train a dolphin to learning all about TSA’s education and conservation efforts. For a final grade, students even had the chance to design an exhibit and present it to the TSA staff, all of which opened their eyes to what it takes to work as an animal keeper or trainer.
Read MoreDuring the new summer course, Island University students learned everything there was to know about what it takes to run an aquarium. The class, titled “Texas State Aquarium Animal Care Operations – a Look at Conservation, Welfare” consisted of lectures and behind the scenes interactions with the trainers and their animals. Students learned everything from how to identify a fertilized flamingo egg, how to train a dolphin to learning all about TSA’s education and conservation efforts. For a final grade, students even had the chance to design an exhibit and present it to the TSA staff, all of which opened their eyes to what it takes to work as an animal keeper or trainer.
