Lindsey Sprague is a lucky individual, in that her six-year old daydreams are in the process of coming true. As a sophomore at UNH, and a member of the agricultural sorority Sigma Alpha, she was fortunate to spend her winter break in the Bahamas playing with dolphins all day, and getting the experience of her ultimate dream job; a dolphin trainer! This campus celebrity will be your future Sea World training star!
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When did you fist become interested in dolphins, and why dolphins?
I can’t remember a time of my life that animals have not been part of my life. I’ve had them ranging from frogs and birds to cats and dogs, and always dreamed of working with them in some way. I became interested in dolphins and all marine animals when I spent summers living by the ocean. I have been living each summer at Cape Cod since I was seven years old and do not know any place better than the ocean. I took the typical whale watches they offer around the Cape, and that was where I saw my first dolphins racing along side the boat. They are beautiful, intelligent and fascinating animals that I could spend my life around if possible.
(Meet Maggie the Sea Lion!)Â
How did you reach the conclusion that you wanted to be a dolphin trainer?
I knew I wanted to be a trainer after visiting Sea World for the first time as a first grader. Watching the men and women with giant smiles getting to touch and play with the dolphins, whales, sea lions and other animals just left me speechless. I couldn’t think of any job that could top what they were doing. My parents always told me to find a job you enjoy because it will make you happy and look forward to each day.
(Practicing spins!)Â
Describe the internship that you got to experience:
I recently had an internship that allowed me to assist in training dolphins and sea lions, as well as caring for them. It took place in the Bahamas, and was possibly one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. The staff was so welcoming and friendly and had so much advice to offer me so I could someday be where they are. Daily tasks at the internship included preparing the food for the animals, learning the care procedures, assisting in training, medication preparation, assisting in guest relations and educational programs as well as cleaning. During this internship I also was taught about natural history, animal training and marine conservation. They were long days, but well worth it!
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Were there any aspects of the internship that you found more difficult that you initially perceived?
Although on the outside, the job may look easy, it is actually physically demanding. The parts that I found to be the most difficult would be food preparation and cleaning. Large boxes of different types of fish (frozen to keep fresh) are brought into the kitchen each day to prepare each dolphin and other marine animals specific diets. Every box of fish must be sorted through thoroughly to weed out the “bad” fish. The animals only get food with no imperfections to ensure keeping them healthy. Cleaning needs to be done very thoroughly as well so that no bacteria can grow on anything that the animals will come in contact with and potentially get sick. This includes feeding buckets, to platforms where the trainers stand.
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Is there anything that has discouraged you from being a dolphin trainer?
It is a very difficult field of work to get into, and that is what scares me most. I know that I am going in the right direction by the internships and working on a B.S in zoology as well as a minor in Psychology and Animal Behavior, but you never know how long it may take to get where you actually want to be job wise. There is also a rigorous test that potential trainers must take to make sure that the candidates are qualified and physically ready for the job. These things are intimidating, but won’t stop me from working towards my dream.
What was the most fascinating aspect of your work?
The thing that fascinated me the most about training dolphins was just how intelligent the animals are. I knew that they were some of the smartest animals out there, but when you get to be with them for a certain amount of time, you understand just how bright they are. I met some dolphins that knew how to do over 200 behaviors, and a lot of these, the trainers do not even remember! They also are quite fast learners, as long as they are getting rewarded of course.
(Here’s Lindsey with a trainer, Fonzie!)
What is the next step in your path to becoming a dolphin trainer?
The next steps in my path to becoming a dolphin trainer will probably be to get more experience working with sea animals or other animals, whether it be another internship, volunteer work or a job. For example, I am volunteering this summer with an organization that rescues stranded sea life. I will also work on getting myself SCUBA certified, which I can accomplish at the University of New Hampshire. Boosting my resume is my goal for now!