Dolphin Career and Work
You may be wondering if you work in marine mammal or animal care field what kind of work could you find. Well there is all sorts of possibilities and I plan to list a few work options here to help you on your search.
Working with a Dolphin
There are few industry that hire, Animal Care Employers, Government Agencies, Teaching Institutions, and General Industry.
Animal Care Employers:
- Zoos, Aquariums, and Marine Parks
- Museums
- Foundations and Organizations
Putting Together the Fish Buckets for the Dolphins
Government Agencies:
- Bureau of Land Management
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Park Service
- National Science Foundation
Teaching Institutions:
- Colleges and Universities
- Community and Junior Colleges
- Technical Schools
- Elementary, Junior High and High School
General Industry:
- Development of Products for Agriculture
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Sales and Production
- Life Support / Water Quality
- Filtration System Equipment
I hope I did not miss any careers. Can you think of any other working opportunities to add to this list?
God Bless,
John
June 21st, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Hi John,
I have been trying to find employment in an ecology or biology field as a technician to get hands on training. I am currently 2 years into a 4 year degree Hon. B.Sc. in biology. i had to give up school and find work for the time being due to financial problems. I would like to find a job in my chosen field to keep my hand in what I am training for rather than a service job for the sake of a paycheque. However, it seems like no one will hire someone like me without a degree. I am frustrated and feel that I am slipping further away from my dream of working in Marine Biology. And perhaps working with whales or dolphins. What can I do without a degree to get closer rather than further away?
June 24th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Hi Esther,
We used to work with Dolphin Plus in Key Largo. I used to know a guy there that was a trainer and he had no experience in the Marine Mammal field. He would come to Key Largo to do the swimming with dolphin programs there. The staff started to remember him and they asked him if he wanted a internship, which he accepted. After a 6 months of a non-paid internship, he got the training with the animals and eventually received a paid job. He worked there for 3 years and he had no training or formal education. You will need to decide how badly you want the job and then go for it. Show up at the dolphin facility of your choice and start volunteering. You can do it!
God Bless,
John
July 11th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I finished matric last year + I dream of becoming a dolphin trainer!
Due to finances I cant do the official Marine biology course at an university but am up for anything that can help me bring closer to my dream!
If you dont have the qualification, what qualilities will help me go further?
I am willing to start at the bottom + make the most of life.
What is the job outline of a marine mammal trainer?
July 11th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Hi Ana Alicia,
I have known many dolphin trainers that had no schooling but were determine to enter into the field but they sacrificed a lot. They did a non-paid volunteering position for many months and then moved into a non-paid internship, then into a paid position. During the non-paid time they worked another job to make ends meet.
Go to: DolphinPlaces.com and either contact the dolphin facilities directly and find out how to volunteer. That is the only thing I can recommend to you.
May you find your dream.
God Bless,
John
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:12 pm
To Dolphin Man, Ana Alicia and etc…
I am curious, what exactly attract you guys to want to become a dolphin trainer or even get involved in those swim with dolphin programs?
I really want to know because I am surprised that people can love them so much to the point to actually cause them suffering.
I’m not judging anyone here, I just would like to say that I too wanted to be a trainer and get in contact with those beautiful creatures, share the joy to swim with those beautiful creatures……until I found out that our “Love” for those creatures is exactly what will cause their downfall. Those water parks, and aquariums etc are what mainly motivates massacres such as “The Cove”, to feed those places you want to work in.
Due to their hightened intelligence and social sense, captivity kills those animals.
Don’t be part of it
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:03 am
Hi Peppermint,
You even say you wanted to be a dolphin trainer and you know how wonderful dolphins are. To really know how Dolphins are treated in captivity would be for you to work for a dolphin facility and then judge. You are saying you are not judging but you are judging. You can’t say you know unless you do it. You can volunteer at facility and see how the dolphins are treated and then make comment back. Remember media is very bias, one side or the other. Movies, newspapers, and books are there to sell and make money. Even the movie the Cove is there to make money.
If you do volunteer at a dolphin facility, please write back and tell me your experience and how the dolphins were treated.
God Bless,
John
Dolphin Man