Aquarium of the Podcific

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Madeline and Erin sit down with Aquarists Jackie Simpson and Emily Smith to explore one of the most fascinating and underappreciated parts of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific: target training. You might picture sea lions doing flips or birds following a hand signal, but target training reaches far deeper into the aquarium than most guests ever realize. From zebra sharks to tiny puffers, every animal at the Aquarium engages with its environment in ways shaped by the people who care for them.In this episode:What target training actually is and why it matters for animal health and welfareHow fish and invertebrates are trained differently from marine mammals and birdsThe story of Nandor the zebra shark, who figured out target training all on his ownHow Fern the zebra shark swims herself into the husbandry pool on cueThe octopus who learned to sit on the edge of the basket instead of climbing inFreddie the Queensland grouper and how his target moved from the surface to a diver's chestWhat it looks like to target train archerfish using their own natural behaviorWhy sharks are actually pretty timid animals and what would really happen if you fell in the tankHow Jackie and Emily found their way to the Aquarium of the Pacific and what they'd tell aspiring aquaristsGet involved:Support the Aquarium of the Pacific, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at pacific.to/donate. Your membership and donations make care like this possible every single day.Episode resources:TranscriptMichael the parrotfish enjoying his favorite snack, cilantroLearn more about animal care at the Aquarium of the PacificStay connected: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed to Aquarium of the Podcific wherever you are listening, and leave us a five-star review! It goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Email us at [email protected]! Follow the Aquarium of the Pacific across social media (@aquariumpacific) for fun animal videos, conservation updates, and more. Follow the podcast's own Instagram (@podcific) for episode updates and behind-the-scenes content.Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Amanda Torres joins Madeline and Erin to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to care for one of the Aquarium's most specialized and climate-controlled exhibits, the Diving Birds habitat, introduces us to the full cast of clownish characters, and answers the question everyone has been asking: are they penguins? (Spoiler alert, no!)In this episode:Amanda's path at the Aquarium from education intern to mammologist and diving bird caretakerWhat alcids are, what makes them remarkable, and how the Aquarium's flock is structured across tufted puffins, horned puffins, and pigeon guillemotsThe engineering behind the exhibit: Alaska-based daylight simulation, reverse air pressure, and water temperatures cold enough to require an 8mm wetsuitHow behavioral training has transformed the way staff monitor and care for individual birds, including weekly weigh-ins and voluntary medication deliveryThe Alcid Rodeo: the annual drain-down, full flock physicals, and what 14 to 16 hours of coordinated bird wrangling actually looks likeIndividual puffin personalities, including Elmer (enthusiastic, 27-plus years old, does not slow down), Brownie (polite), Pumpkin (excited but discerning), and the Nia and Monty situationRelationship dynamics across the flock, including Heff, Daisy, and the pigeon guillemot dramaPuffin conservation status and the threats of climate change, ocean plastic, and introduced predatorsEpisode resources:Episode transcriptLearn more about alcids in our Online Learning CenterTufted puffinsHorned puffinsPigeon guillemotStay connected: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed to Aquarium of the Podcific wherever you are listening, and leave us a five-star review! It goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Email us at [email protected]! Follow the Aquarium of the Pacific across social media (@aquariumpacific) for fun animal videos, conservation updates, and more. Follow the podcast's own Instagram (@podcific) for episode updates and behind-the-scenes content.Thanks for listening!