It is natural for a dolphin to attempt to hide an injury or illness, as an obvious injury or illness would
make it appear weak and more vulnerable to attack by a predator. Much skill and experience is required to diagnose a
dolphin's injury or problematic health issue. The term "husbandry" is used to describe the science and health management of
animals in captivity. Husbandry behaviors are "simulated" frequently (without actually performing them) in an effort to desensitize
the animal and provide for lower stress levels in the dolphin when their actual performance is required. There are many ways
in which husbandry behaviors are carried out to manage the care and conditioning of captive animals.
Requesting the dolphin to "present flukes" allows the specialist to draw blood and to do a general assessment
of the health of these two fins. A request to present flukes also may be used as a "hold" or "stay"of the animal so that other
animals may be worked with or when the conditions are changing in the animal's environment. This holding of dolphins is called
DRI, or differential reinforcement for incompatible behavior. At the conclusion of DRI, the dolphin is rewarded for its compliance
with this request.
In the following video the trainer is teaching the dolphin to accept being handled in a "vertical up" position
with pressure applied to the flukes. This procedure would be necessary if a blood draw was required. Blood would be drawn
from the major vessel running along the underside of the flukes. The pressure being applied helps to simulate the needle
stick required for the blood draw.
The following video shows the urine collection procedure, providing an important sample used for a variety
of evaluations. The trainer first performs a "flukes haul out" by gently drawing the dolphin out onto a solid surface
with its ventral side exposed. A flukes haul out not only allows for urine collection. It is also used to collect
semen, blood, fecal, gastric, vaginal, respiratory and mammary milk samples for evaluation.
To begin the urine collection the trainer cleans the urogenital opening with an antiseptic gauze pad, places
the collection cup into position for the urine catch, and applies light pressure on the bladder with the palm of the hand.
The female dolphin then fills the cup. Voluntary urine collection was first accomplished when trainers noticed
predictable dolphin urination approximately 15 minutes after each feeding.The fact that the dolphin's bladder
is quite small and the animal must urinate frequently aids in the training of this behavior. Urine
collection is useful for monitoring hormone levels and is a less invasive method than blood collection. One important test
of urine collected from the female dolphin is to measure the level of LH (luteinizing hormone). Urine samples required for
LH testing are typically collected in 12 hour intervals. LH causes the release of an egg for potential fertilization. A significant
increase seen in LH levels is indicative of impending egg release and is important information used for timing mating
contact with males.
Another unique husbandry procedure is demonstrated below. The dolphin in this video spends its approximately
8 hours of rest each day with its melon (head) out of the water. Because, like man, a dolphin's skin may be
damaged by excessive exposure to the sun's rays, it is seen receiving an application of sunscreen (Zinc Oxide).
This is applied during days when the sun is intense. If this dolphin were to live in the wild, it would
most likely develop serious skin problems, perhaps even skin cancer, after years of exposure to the sun. Because of the husbandry
procedures practiced in captivity it is protected against this outcome.
In order to protect a captive dolphin from dehydration while it spends significant time with its melon
above the water surface, a sprinkler is provided to cool and dampen the exposed skin surface.
Here an Indianapolis Zoo dolphin specialist demonstrates a number of husbandry methods employed in caring for
the Bottlenose dolphin.
Semen is collected from male dolphins on a trainer's command. Blood is drawn using a needle stick of the major
vein located on the ventral surface of the flukes. Fecal samples are collected using a small rubber catheter placed into the
animal's rectum. Gastric samples are withdrawn using a flexible lubricated tube placed down the dolphin's esophagus and into
the stomach. Vaginal samples are collected by swabbing the vaginal interior. Respiratory samples are collected by requesting
the dolphin to "chuff" or blow air out of the blowhole onto an absorbent card held just above the blowhole. This card may
then be sent to the laboratory for analysis of micro-organisms and/or particulate present in the animal's respiratory tract.
In this flukes haul out, mammary milk is being obtained using a breast pump. Mammary milk may be examined for
hormone levels as well as for studying changes in the ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrate as the female rears her
nursing calf over the months following its birth.
"Blowhole desensitization" is the conditioning of the dolphin to having objects placed above and on the blowhole
area of the melon. This area of the dolphin is very sensitive, as it represents the locale from which vocalizations and
echolocations are produced and through which breaths are taken. A complex of nerves is located in this area to help the dolphin
recognize when it has cleared the surface of the water and it is safe to inhale. Desensitization of this area is also performed
for the purpose of medicating the dolphin. Medications targeted for the respiratory system (by way of blowhole inhalation)
are given using an inhaler. This device requires repeated, specific desensitization practice. The dolphin is conditioned to
inhale while this device is set on top of the blowhole. A mist of medicated vapor is released by the specialist into this
apparatus as the dolphin inhales.
A "slide out" is used for general assessment or to weigh the dolphin using a flat, low-lying electronic scale.
A "ventral up" request allows for general visual health assessment of the ventral side of the animal, or to
produce a sonogram using ultrasound equipment to monitor pregnancy or general health, or may be used as a DRI.
Site Content
Understanddolphins.com contains information condensed from a number of reputable technical sources,
peer reviewed journal articles, and respected dolphin research facilities, as well as from my personal experiences and
observations as a dolphin VIP Tour Guide and Educator.
I have made every attempt to support the information presented in this site with video and still
photographic images. On a regular basis I plan to produce more of these images and will continue to update the site with these
as well as with any new and scientifically verified information which becomes available.
