Training and Trust

One of the most important things to the trainers when it comes to their animals is making sure that they’re healthy. The Steller sea lions at the Aquarium are weighed every morning and measured 2 or 3 times a week to see if they have grown or lost weight.

But sea lions are really big animals. The female sea lions at the Aquarium weigh about 200 kilograms each, and our male sea lion, Tag, weighs almost 700 kilograms. That’s more than two grand pianos! If they don’t want to hop onto a scale or lie flat for several minutes to get measured, there’s no way to force them.

So how can you get a 700 kg sea lion to do something? You can’t. He has to agree to do it.

The trainers build a relationship with the sea lions by spending a lot of time with them. When you spend 8 hours a day, 365 days a year with someone, you get to be pretty good friends! Because the Stellers trust the trainers, they’re open to trying out new things even if it might seem strange to them – like getting onto a scale or lying still for an X-ray.

The behaviours that the sea lions learn aren’t just fancy tricks to impress an audience. They're necessary to the continuing research on sea lion biology and physiology. They also keep the sea lions mentally stimulated and physically active, which leads to a stronger bond between the trainers and the animals.

Watch how Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Trainers work with captive Steller sea lions!

Video screenshot of marine mammal trainer Billy Lasby checking inside the mouth of a female Steller sea lion. Click to watch the video