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Given the globally disruptive challenges presented by COVID-19, zoos, aquariums, and the conservation and research organizations they support are in serious financial jeopardy. So to help sort out a robust pathway forward, we sought the assistance of renowned futurist, Dr. Bob Johansen from the Institute for the Future. In his latest book, he describes the importance of a Full-Spectrum Thinking mindset to avoid the brain's tendency towards rigid categorical thinking. With the next decade expected to be even more chaotic than today such rigidity is not only outdated, it often leads to a false certainty and all too simplistic binary choices. He argues this old way of thinking is not only foolish, it can be dangerous.

To successfully navigate what he calls the "scramble" and to reach the next decade, what's needed is a future-back approach- one that allows leaders to use foresight to set the direction for where an organization wants to be among a spectrum of possible futures. Then by harnessing current insights and remaining flexible about how to get to that future, leaders and organizations can make sense of new opportunities. Resisting labels and using new technologies will assist leaders to see patterns in big-data and achieve greater clarity over false certainty.

That Sounds Wild: Black Bear. Frank Buck Zoo

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More than a year after his arrival in the waters of Norway, Hvaldimir, a trained beluga whale is surviving on his own while still seeking the company of his human family. Whether it's sleeping under maintenance boats at fish farms or engaging with people in crowded waterways, Hvaldimir may be living free in the open ocean but he's anything but wild. Marine mammal expert Lindsay Rubincam shares how a social media network tracking his whereabouts is helping a team of volunteers insure his future well being and informing Norway Fisheries.

One thing is clear, Hvaldimir is touching the hearts and minds of the people of Norway, which is remarkable given the country's whaling past and present.

That Sounds Wild: Gibbons. The Phoenix Zoo

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Animal training experts Chuck Tompkins and Ted Turner return for a third installment on behavioral principles to discuss how operant conditioning using positive reinforcement in managed care can prevent and at minimum reduce the frequency and intensity of aggressive behaviors directed at other animals, caregivers, or the immediate environment. The goal is not to react to or try to suppress aggressive responses after they have happened as traditional punishment-based training often calls for, but to prevent the fear or frustration that leads to aggression before it ever occurs.

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Renowned veterinary pathologist and researcher, Dr. Judy St. Leger is the president of Rising Tide Conservation. According to its website, Rising Tide Conservation is dedicated to developing and promoting aquaculture of marine ornamental fish species through the collaborative efforts of researchers, public aquaria, hobbyists, pet industry professionals, and conservation groups. Rising Tide Conservation facilitates sustainability in the aquarium industry by supporting marine ornamental fish aquaculture research in order to reduce the impacts of wild fish collection on fish populations and the coral reefs where they live.

That Sounds Wild: Screech owl. Frank Buck Zoo.

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This special episode features a series of panel presentations based on recently published peer-reviewed papers about dolphin life expectancy, orca longevity, cetacean dive physiology, and two rebuttals of Marino et al 2019. Panelists Kelly Jaakkola, Kevin Willis, Andreas Fahlman, Heather Hill, Kathleen Dudzinski, & Jason Bruck present data, as well as, commentary on a case study example of a published paper on orca welfare that never should have cleared the peer-review process. Our panel of scientists clarify what we currently know and don't know about two popular species of marine mammals in human care and in the wild across a few key welfare measures. Plus, they discuss at length the problems that occur when previous scientific citations are misused, and unsupported opinion and agendas are passed off as science in peer-reviewed journals.

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Kelly Jaakkola Dolphin Life Expectancy

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12601

Kevin Willis Orca Longevity

Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019.

Jett, J. and Ventre, J. Captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) survival. Marine Mammal Science, 4:297-311. 2015.

Robeck, T. R., K. Willis, M. R. Scarpuzzi and J. K. O'Brien. 2015. Comparisons of life history parameters between free-ranging and captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations for application toward species management. Journal of Mammalogy, 96:1055-1070.

Robeck, T., Jaakkola, K., Stafford G., and Willis, K. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) survivorship in captivity: A critique of Jett and Ventre (2015). Marine Mammal Science, 32, 786–792. 2016.

Andreas Fahlman Dolphin Dive and Respiratory Physiology

Borque Espinosa, A., Burgos, F., Dennison, S., Laughlin, R., Manley, M., Capaccioni, R. and Fahlman, A. (2020). Lung function testing as a diagnostic tool to assess respiratory health in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 138, 17-27.

Fahlman, A., Borque-Espinosa, A., Facchin, F., Ferrero Fernandez, D., Muñoz Caballero, P., Haulena, M. and Rocho-Levine, J. (2020). Comparative respiratory physiology in cetaceans. Frontiers Physiology 11, 1-7.

Fahlman, A., Brodsky, M., Miedler, S., Dennison, S., Ivančić, M., Levine, G., Rocho-Levine, J., Manley, M., Rocabert, J. and Borque Espinosa, A. (2019). Ventilation and gas exchange before and after voluntary static surface breath-holds in clinically healthy bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Journal of Experimental Biology 222, 1-9.

Fahlman, A., Brodsky, M., Wells, R., McHugh, K., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Sweeney, J. C., Fauquier, D. and Moore, M. (2018a). Field energetics and lung function in wild bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Sarasota Bay Florida. Royal Society Open Science 5, 171280.

Fahlman, A., Jensen, F., Tyack, P. L. and Wells, R. (2018b). Modeling tissue and blood gas kinetics in coastal and offshore common Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Frontiers Physiology 9, 1-13.

Fahlman, A., Loring, S. H., Levine, G., Rocho-Levine, J., Austin, T. and Brodsky, M. (2015). Lung mechanics and pulmonary function testing in cetaceans Journal of Experimental Biology 218, 2030-2038.

Fahlman, A., McHugh, K., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Allen, A., Sweeney, J., Stone, R., Faulkner Trainor, R., Bedford, G., Moore, M. J. et al. (2018c). Resting metabolic rate and lung function in wild offshore common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, near bermuda. Frontiers in Physiology 9.

Fahlman, A., Moore, M. J. and Garcia-Parraga, D. (2017). Respiratory function and mechanics in pinnipeds and cetaceans. Journal of Experimental Biology 220, 1761-1763.

Thanks to Dr. Randy Wells, Director of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program and Chicago Zoological Society.

https://www.sarasotadolphin.org/about-us-2/

Kathleen Dudzinski & Heather Hill

Commentary on Marino et al 2019 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cj9473p

www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org

https://www.dolphincommunicationproject.org/index.php/about-dolphins/scientific-publications

Jason Bruck

Commentary on Marino et al 2019 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jason_Bruck2

Friend of the podcast, Dr. Hendrik Nollens describes his new role as VP of Conservation Medicine and Science at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. In addition to responding to marine mammal stranding events along the entire coastline of Orange County, the PMMC has an ongoing role in public education, original wildlife research, as well as, assisting wild animals, particularly large cetaceans, entangled by ropes and other fishing debris. Dr. Nollens sees advancements in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry science developed in zoological facilities being increasingly utilized proactively to intervene with wild animals, including endangered species, at risk from injury or illness.

That Sounds Wild: Reeves muntjac. Frank Buck Zoo.

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Modern zoos and aquariums are agents for positive change. Through conservation, public education, in situ and ex situ research, and the display of amazing animals, zoological facilities inspire people of all ages to care about the well-being of wildlife and wild places. Still, it doesn't take one long to realize that these organizations so dedicated to preserving biodiversity are, in fact, not all that diverse in terms of their workforce, especially across animal-related departments and occupations. Given the ongoing historical protests for racial equality and justice, how are zoos and aquariums endeavoring to build more diverse teams? What roadblocks exist to increasing participation in zoological work by people of color? Does the lack of diversity among role models have an effect on inspiring young people to consider careers in zoos and aquariums? And, how do we reconcile the shameful role some prominent western zoos played in the 19th and 20th centuries in perpetuating racial stereotypes in support of white supremacy and Colonialism?

Our guest is Odysea Aquarium's TJ Lowery who is also co-founder of Defeating Racism at Work or DR@W.

That Sounds Wild: Nubian Ibex. Frank Buck Zoo

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Our recent episode on the Least Reinforcing Scenario (#113) set download records and elicited so much feedback from listeners that we invited long time animal training experts Chuck Tompkins and Ted Turner back to discuss other controversial operant conditioning terms and topics. The Intermediate Bridge and End of Session signal are two such concepts about which few behavior training professionals are ambivalent. Chuck and Ted reflect on the validity of these concepts and warn trainers against letting humanistic interpretations of animal responses cloud their decision-making when it comes to behavior management using operant conditioning.

That Sounds Wild: African lion, coyote, and new guinea Singing Dog. EATM at Moorpark College.

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Dr. Barbara Baker the president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for thirty years spoke at the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums annual meeting in February (just as the COVID-19 pandemic was arriving in the United States) as part of a panel discussion made up of leaders of major zoological organizations from around the world. She also serves as the Board Chair for the trade association known as the Zoological Association of America. Dr. Baker shares her insights on Expedia's decision to support ticket sales to zoos and aquariums accredited by a few trade groups but not others. Given the resurgence in activism by well-funded companies like PeTA and HSUS, Dr. Baker warns of the federal, state, and local legislative bills targeting such aspects of zoo operations as animal ambassadors, transports, breeding and public display. She argues these efforts are intended to force zoos into adopting a sanctuary model and eventually into extinction. She stresses the need for all zoo and aquarium accreditation organizations to work together and to resist activist efforts to divide and conquer zoo and aquarium professionals.

Also, Dr Jo Fava from Animal Necessity returns with a great way for zoo and aquarium fans to support their local facilities struggling with the loss of revenues during the pandemic.

That Sounds Wild: Asian Elephant cows

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Recently, the Georgia Aquarium site of the Animal Planet show, The Aquarium, announced the birth of a large female beluga whale calf. Long time marine mammal husbandry and training professionals, Eric Gaglione and Dennis Christen describe the extensive planning and staff preparation that occurs in advance of any cetacean birth. Most important to the process is the extensive desensitization training based upon operant conditioning and positive reinforcement that the expectant mother receives from her caregivers. The goal is to prepare the team and the animals for any conceivable contingency prior to, during, and after parturition. Hear the latest on what challenges occurred during delivery, how the team successfully responded, and the latest on how the calf is doing.

That Sounds Wild: Beluga chorus.

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