Kilo's training session-Lesson on Positive Reinforcement from DolphinLab June 11th, 2009

In this video, you will see 8-year old male California sea lion Kilo being trained to do a variety of behaviors. Building a relationship with a marine mammal can take years to succeed at and no method of training is forced in any nature. If the behavior was forced, then the animal can become very aggressive towards the trainer. In Kilo's case, if one of his trainers ask him to do a starch, then he will do it on a verbal cue by saying "Kilo starch". Then he is rewarded with either a rub down, a toy or a fish.

ABOUT POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Positive Reinforcement is an encouraging stimulus that increases the frequency of a behavior when it is presented.

ABOUT REINFORCEMENT: Reinforcement is the process by which a stimulus increases the chances that the preceding behavior will occur again.

MORE INFO ON POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ON MARINE MAMMALS: About over 40 years ago, the old training method for marine mammals was do a desired behavior, and then the animal recieves a fish. Now four decades later, it's a desired behavior by a marine mammal, and they recieved touches, massages, ice, fish, and of course toys. While fish is a considered a primary reinforcement, enrichment toys, touches, and massages are all conisdered secondary reinforcements.

Now, Read on how SeaWorld's killer whale trainer Ken Peters trains his animals from a 2008 article on marine mammal training "Theme Park Insider behind the scenes: with the trainers at SeaWorld San Diego":

"Like a preschool teacher, you're always there to make it fun and exciting for the animals. Most of their reinforcement is interacting with us. The aerials are really exciting for the crowds, and the trainers, too, but what a trainer finds most exciting is when a young whale learns those little behaviors for this first time. If you can train the animal to be okay with these things, the trainer knows that they will be okay with all the other things."

"It's like watching a baseball game. Sure, it's nice to watch home runs, but what gets parents most excited? It's seeing their kid get a hit for the first time.I don't think that the water is that important a variable. There's no yanking on a chain, like some do with a dog. If you use punishment on a whale, it will punish you back."
----Ken Peters, SeaWorld San Diego trainer (1967-)

To learn about marine mammal training, read the article that is mentioned in this summary.: http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200808/876/

and now, time for how Kilo dose his training at Dolphin Research Center.

ABOUT KILO: Kilo is a male California who was born at SeaWorld Orlando to sea lion parents Noelle and Big Frank on June 28th, 2001. He was transferred to Dolphin Research Center when he was about a year old to their elderly male sea lion Loki. Loki died from an age-related throat infection in March of 2008, making Kilo the only sea lion in DRC's sea lion collection until spring 2009 when the facility acquired two elderly female sea lions Karen and Renee from Gulf World. He was not introduced to them due to the rut season. I am so sure now that Rut is over, Kilo must have already been introduced to them.

Filmed at: Dolphin Research Center Grassy Key, FL
Date: June 11th, 2009

Please watch and comment.
This video is for Gretchen (chicagocetecean)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Dolphin Research Center
• animals
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• marine mammals
• pinnipeds
• pennipedia
• seals
• sea lions
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• marine mammal training
• positive reinforcement
• animal training demonstration
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• Kilo the sea lion
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• marine mammal facilities
• Ken Peters
• SeaWorld trainer
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• IMATA
• SeaWorld

[marinebeauties12]

Thanks for the comment. I apperciate the tip.

[AllanbelongswithCaro]

RIP Renee D':

[Seppeline5]

A primary reinforcer is something thats rewarding in itself, mostly food. A secondary reinforcer is something thats neutral at first (such as the whistle used in marine mammal training) but is presented in combination with a primary reinforcer and thus becomes associated with it. The whistle, rub downs, ice, etc. are at first given in combination with food and then they become secondary reinforcers because they are a signal for the animals that announces food.