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>> THIS ORIGINAL WSRE
PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE SANTA ROSA
ISLAND AUTHORITY.
LOCATED ON BEAUTIFUL PENSACOLA
BEACH, FLORIDA.
FEATURING A WIDE VARIETY OF
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
VENUES.
FRESH FROM THE GULF SEAFOOD.
SPECTACULAR LODGING.
BRILLIANT WHITE SAND BEACHES.
AND WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS.
PENSACOLA BEACH, WAITING FOR YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY TO EXPLORE.
>> IT'S A SIGNATURE GULF COAST
LAND MARK AND FOR MORE THAN HALF
A CENTURY, IT'S BEEN HOME TO AN
UNDERWATER WORLD OF MARINE
MAMMALS.
REPTILES, BIRDS AND FISH OF ALL
DESCRIPTIONS.
IT'S THE GULFARIUM MARINE
ADVENTURE PARK.
IF YOUR TRAVELS TAKE YOU TO THE
BEACH FRONT OF OKALOOSA ISLAND,
YOU'LL DISCOVER IT RIGHT IN YOUR
OWN BACKYARD.
>> IF I CAN STEP BACK IN TIME I
WOULD IMAGINE THAT ONCE THE
GULFARIUM AND LIKE FACILITIES
CAME ABOUT, IT WAS A BIG DEAL
BACK THEN TO SEE DOLPHINS UP
CLOSE AND TO SEE THEM JUMP OUT
OF THE WATER, THAT HAD JUST
NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE
IT WAS CERTAINLY A ONE OF A KIND
EXPERIENCE TO COME HERE AND SEE
SHARKS, WE HAD SALES, SEE LIONS,
JUST COULDN'T SEE THOSE THINGS
BACK THEN.
>> BEFORE DISNEY AND RISE OF
MEGA THEME PARKS, BEFORE HIGH
RICE CONDOS LINED THE FLORIDA
COAST, THE GULFARIUM IN IF THE
WALTON BEACH PROVIDED A MAGICAL
SETTING FOR VISITORS TO COME
FACE TO FACE WITH CREATURES OF
THE SEA.
TOGETHER WITH LOCAL CITIZENS AND
A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, ONE MAN IN
PARTICULAR SPEARHEADED THE IDEA
OF ESTABLISHES AN AQUARIUM
TOURIST ATTRACTION AND RESEARCH
CENTER ON WHAT WAS THEN CALLED
THE MIRACLE STRIP.
>> THE GULFARIUM WAS STARTED IN
1955, IT WAS STARTED BY A MARINE
RESEARCHER BY THE NAME OF BRANDY
SIEBENALER, IT WAS HIS VISION
AND HIS GOAL TO GIVE THE FOLKS
ALONG THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA A
PLACE TO COME EXPERIENCE AND SEE
MARINE LIFE LIKE THEY HAD NEVER
SEEN IT BEFORE.
>> OVER TIME WHAT WE TRIED TO DO
IS REALLY EMBRACE THAT HISTORY,
FLORIDA ITSELF MAY HAVE CHANGED
TO MORE COMPLEX RESORTS AND MORE
MODERN PLACES TO VISIT, WHILE WE
TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIME AS
FAR AS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT WE
TRY TO EMBRACE THE HISTORY OF
WHAT GULFARIUM HAS EMBODIED
WHICH IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
LEARN ABOUT MARINE LIFE AND MAKE
A CONNECTION, EXPERIENCE
INTERACTING WITH THE ANIMALS AND
SEEING THEM THROUGH THE WINDOW
OR IN VARIOUS WAYS.
>> DO YOU SEE THEM SWIM
SOMETHING
>> MAKING THAT CONNECTION AND
INSPIRING THEM TO MAKE -- MAYBE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR
WORLD.
>> I WAS NEW YORK -- IT SEEMS
LIKE I WAS IN HEN, I WAS LIKE
WOW, THERE'S ALL THESE LIVING
THINGS AROUND ME.
IT WAS REALLY COOL.
>> I CAME NOT JUST FOR THE
BEAUTY OF THE ANIMALS TO ENJOY
BUT ALSO EDUCATE MY SON.
HE WANTED A BETTER APPRECIATION
AN RESPECT THE MARINE LIFE IF HE
GETS TO INTERACT WITH THEM.
HERE THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO DO
THAT.
>> IT WAS AWESOME.
>> WELCOME TO GULFARIUM MARINE
ADVENTURE PARK.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR
THREE STARS OF TODAY'S SHOW.
STARTING OUT ON THE LEFT-HAND
SIDE OF OUR DOCK WE DO HAVE A
17-YEAR-OLD MALE, SAY HELLO TO
EVERYONE TODAY.
>> PEOPLE DO COME UP TO TRAINERS
AND AQUARISTS OR ANYBODY AT THE
GULFARIUM, I WAS HERE WHEN I WAS
YOUNGER AND DON'T MENTION
SPECIFIC ABOUT MALLS BY NAME
WHICH YOU DON'T SEE EVERYWHERE.
>> AND THEN RIGHT THERE AS -- WE
DO HAVE LILY OUR TEN-YEAR-OLD
FEMALE.
>> THAT'S REALLY FUN FOR US
BECAUSE WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THESE ANIMALS AND THEY ARE
BASICALLY PART OF OUR FAMILY.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY CAMS BACK AS A
RETURN GUEST AND MENTIONS THOSE
ANIMALS BY NAME, THEY'RE LIKE I
HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME SEEING SO
AND SO IN THE SHOW LAST YEAR,
CAN I SEE THEM AGAIN?
WE'RE ABLE TO POINT THAT OUT TO
THEM.
>> GIVE THEM A BIG HAND OUT
THERE.
>> IT'S FUN FOR US TO KNOW THAT
SOMEBODY CARES ENOUGH ABOUT OUR
ANIMALS TO REMEMBER THEIR NAMES
AN COME BACK AND VISIT THEM
AGAIN.
>> FOR DECADES DOLPHIN AND SEE
LION SHOWS PLEASED CROWDS WITH
AMAZING FEAST OF AGILITY, TRIED
AND TRUE PUNCH LINES AND SITE
GAGS.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW?
I'M GOING TO HELP YOU OUT.
THAT RIGHT THERE, THAT'S A DEAD
FISH.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE SHOWY
TAKES PLACE SEVERAL TIMES DAILY,
GULFARIUM HAS INTRODUCED A
VARIETY OF UP CLOSE ANIMAL
ENCOUNTERS PLUS A MANAGERY OF
LAND SKY AND SEA DWELLING CREE
CHUS.
>> WHEN YOU COME TO THE
GULFARIUM YOU'LL SEE A WIDE
VARIETY OF ANIMALS.
WE HAVE REPTILES INCLUDING
ALLIGATORS,TOR TOWER TOYSES,TOR
--TOR -- WE HAVE COKE TOOS AND
CONYERS.
WE HAVE PENGUIN, WE HAVE HARBOR
SALE, SEA LIONS AND SMALL CLOTH
OTTERS AND YOUR WIDE VARIETY OF
FISH INCLUDING SHARKS AND OUR
STING RAYS, EVEN INVERTEBRATES
YOU CAN INTERACT AND TOUCH.
>> THAT IS COOL.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU.
>> I PROMISE.
>> THE NEAT THING ABOUT THE
GULFARIUM SIT APPEARS TO ALL
AGES.
ANY AGE CAN CONNECT WITH A
DOLPHIN OR MARINE LIFE OR WITH
ANIMALS IN GENERAL.
SO WE HAVE VISITORS AS I DON'T
THINK AS ONE YEAR OF AGE THAT
ARE SEEING A DOLPHIN THE FIRST
TIME AND YOU SEE THE LOOK IN
THEIR EYES, IT TEASE SAME LOOK,
THAT SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN HERE,
MULTIPLE TIMES OR MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT OLDER, IN THAT 50, 60, 70,
80s, THAT HAVE THAT SAME LOOK
WHEN THEY SEE THE DOLPHINS OR
WHEN THEY SEE THE ALLIGATORS.
>> YOU CAN CONNECT WITH ANIMALS
AT ANY AGE.
>> THE NEAT THING ABOUT THE
GULFARIUM IS INTIMATE NATURE OF
THE EXPERIENCE GUESTS HAVE WHILE
THEY'RE HERE.
THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM OUR
INFORMAL CHATS THAT WE HAVE TO
ACTUALLY GETTING IN THE WATER
AND EXPERIENCING THE ANIMALS UP
CLOSE. WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE UP
CLOSE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IT
MAKES SUCH A STRONG IMPRESSION
ON THOSE GUESTS.
THEY LEAVE WITH A GREATER
APPRECIATION FOR THESE ANIMALS.
WHAT WE FOUND OVER THE YEARS IS
PEOPLE LOVE AND ADORE THE
DOLPHINS SEA LIONS SHOW OVER THE
YEARS BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING MORE
A TRANSITION TO NOT JUST WANTING
TO SEE THEM PERFORM OR DO
BEHAVIORS IN SHOWS BUT ACTUALLY
IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE ANIMAL
WORLD.
SO LEARN WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE,
WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE UP CLOSE,
GET TO TOUCH THEM.
GET TO FEED THEM.
THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUR
VISITORS WANT TO COME AND DO.
SIMPLE, BIG OPEN MOUTH WIDE
TARGET YOU CAN'T MIS, TAKE THE
FISH, POP IN THEIR MOUTH.
NO NEED TO DANGLE OR CHUCK IT
ACROSS THE POOL BECAUSE SEA
GULLS WILL GET IT.
THEY'RE THE CLEAN UP CREW.
SOUND GOOD?
ALL RIGHT.
ANOTHER THING IS YOU GO DOWN THE
PLATFORM AND WHEN ON THE
PLATFORM YOU WANT TO STAY NICE
AND STILL.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUMP OR BOUNCE,
THAT LATTE AWAY FROM YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE RECENTLY OPENED UP A FEW
INTERACTION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO
GIVE PEOPLE THAT IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCE.
>> WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM YOUNG
KIDS COMING AND MIGHT A DOLPHIN
FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR PEOPLE
THROWING A BUCKET LIST MUCH
OLDER IN AGES AND THEY HAVE
NEVER MET A DOLPHIN SO WE GIVE
THEM THE ABILITY TO GET UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL, TOUCH AND P FEED
THEM.
>> DURING THE ENCOUNTER IN THE
WATER WITH THE DOLPHINS YOU SEE
THE DIFFERENT ABILITIES THAT
THEY HAVE THROUGH THEIR HIGH
JUMPS THEIR FAST SWIM AND AS
WELL AS UP CLOSE AN PERSONAL
GETTING TO SEE THEM ON A MORE
PERSONAL LEVEL.
SIMPLE BEHAVIORS.
>> GOOD BOY.
>> WE DECIDE TO COME TODAY
BECAUSE IT'S ERICA'S BIRTHDAY.
SO WE WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING
EXCITING TO DO THERE'S NOT
ANYWHERE ELSE TO DO THIS ON THE
GULF COAST I DON'T THINK.
WE GOT TO DANCE WITH THE
DOLPHINS, WE FED THE DOLPHINS,
THE DOLPHIN SPLASHED US A LOT SO
WE'RE QUITE WET NOW.
>>
>> KERRY SOURCE SHE AND HER
HUSBAND CAME TO GULF COAST WHEN
HE WAS STATIONED AT EGLIN AIR
FORCE BASE.
HIS GIRTH DAY GIFT TO CARRIE WAS
A WISH COME TRUE.
>> I WANTED TO ENCOUNTER WITH
THE DOLPHINS, NOT?
IT STANDS AND WATCH.
IT WAS ALWAYS BAN DREAM OF MINE
TO TOUCH THEHEM AND PLAY WITH THEM
AND THEY'RE VERY SOFT, VERY
AMAZING.
THEY'RE VERY GENTLE, THEY COME
UP TO YOU AND THEY GO BACK OUT
AND THEY'RE CAREFUL NOT TO FLIP
OVER ON YOU, SO A LITTLE NERVE
RACING AT FIRST WHEN YOU'RE
FIRST DOWN THERE BUT IT WAS --
AMAZING AS I THOUGHT IT WAS
GOING TO BE.
IT WAS.
BEST BIRTHDAY EVER.
>> DURING HER VISIT CARRIE
ENCOUNTERED NOT ONLY DOLPHIN BUS
ALSO SEALS, STING RAYS AND
SASHES.
>> OUR BASE SNORECLE PROGRAM IS
INTERACTIVE WHERE AN AQUARIST
WILL LEAD GUESTS TO SIGN UP FOR
A PROGRAM AT THE STING RAY BAY.
WE DO A CHAT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
SPECIES THAT WE HAVE IN STING
RAY BAY AND GENERAL FACTS ABOUT
STING RAYS AND SHARKS.
>> WE COVER A FEW QUICK RULES
THEN GUIDE THEM INTO THE WATER.
WHEN THEY'RE IN THE WATER THEY
ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO PET
SOME OF THE COW NOSE STING RAYS
THEN NEW YORK L WITH STING RAYS
AND ACROSS.
TWO FEET ACROSS WIND TIP TO WIND
TIP, THEY'RE A PELAGIC SPECIES
WHICH MEANS THEY SWIM, THEY'RE
ACTIVE.
THEY SWIM IN SCHOOLS TESTIMONY
THE SOUTHERN STING RAYS ARE
BIGGER SIX AND A HALF FEET
ACROSS, THEY'RE BENTHIC, WHICH
MEANS THEY SPEND MOST TIME
RESTING AT THE BOTTOM.
STEPPING RAYS ARE NOT OUT TO
HUNT PEOPLE, MOST THINGS OCCUR
BECAUSE SOMEBODY STEPS ON ONE
THAT'S BURY AND THEY DIDN'T SEE
IT.
WE TELL EVERYONE TO DO THE STING
RAY SHUFFLE SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING
INTO THE OCEAN SHUFFLE YOUR FEET
AND THE SAND ON THE WAY IN AND
FROM IS A BURIED STING RAY IT
WILL HEAR YOU COMING AN SWIM
OFF.
THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN HANGING
OUT WITH PEOPLE OR BEING UP
CLOSE WITH THEM.
>> WE HAVE BONNET HEADS,S THAT
THEY'RE ONE OF THE SMALLEST
SPECIES OF HAMMER HEAD.
THEY CAN -- THEY STAY RELATIVELY
SMALL.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGSTHEY
FIND IN THE SAND.
THEY'RE BOTTOM FEEDERS SO LITTLE
CRABS AN SHRIMP.
THE BONNET HEADS ARE ACTIVE,
THEY DON'T SEE RAYS AS A
POSSIBLE PREY ITEM AND THEY HAVE
BEEN A BIG GUEST HIT.
PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE
ABLE TO SAY THEY SNORKLED WITH
SHARKS.
>> ADDITION TO DOLPHINS SEAL,
SEE LION AND STING RAY
ENCOUNTERS VISITORS INTERACT
WITH CERTAINTY PARK TURTLE
SPECIES.
>> AT THIS END OF THE PARK IS
EXHIBITION TRAIL AREA.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING IN
AND MEETING OUR AFRICAN SPURRED
TOWER TOYSES.
THEY'RE THE TORTOICSSES.
THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD,
THEY CAN GET OVER 200 POUNDS.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY GUESSES WHAT
THE LARGEST TORTOISE IN THE
WORLD?
EXACTLY YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF.
IN HERE WE HAVE FOUR MALES.
SO THEY'RE ALL BOYS,.
YOU CAN TOUCH THEM.
YOU CAN PET THESE GUYS.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ALL NAPPING
RIGHT NOW.
BUT YOU CAN PET THEM.
THESE GUYS LIKE ALL TURTLES,
THAT YOU ARE SHELL IS PART OF
THEIR BODY SO IT GROWS WITH THEM
AS THEY GROW.
SO THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE
IS SLEEPING WE CAN TRY AND WAKE
THEM UP WITH SOME PEPPERS,
PEPPERS ARE ONE OF THEIR
FAVORITE TREATS.
MOST WHAT THEY EAT IS GRASSES,
WEEDS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE
LOW IN NUTRIENT SO THEY NEED TO
EAT A LOT THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE
DAY TO GET ALL THE NUTRIENTS,
EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF TURTLES
THAT CALL THE GULFARIUM HOME.
AND WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE DOING
THE DISCOVER TURTLES RAM THEY
GET TO ACTUALLY MEET AND GET A
CLOSE UP ENCOUNTER WITH SOME OF
THESE TURTLES.
THE VARIETY THAT WE HAVE DO
INHABIT DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS
SO IT'S COOL THE GUESTS GET TO
WALK THROUGH AND SEE THESE
TURTLES, SOME LIVING IN THE SEA
LIKE SEA TURTLES SPENDING THEIR
LIFE IN THE OCEAN, ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE OTHER END OF THE
SPECTRUM WITH OUR LARGE
TORTOISES THAT SPEND THEIR LIVE
OPS LAND AND DESERT
ENVIRONMENTSES SO SOMETIMES
GUESTS WILL GET TO GET UP CLOSE
AND PLEASE THESE ANIMAL, PET THE
ANIMALS, EVEN FEED THEM.
BUT HAVING OUR -- HAVING THE
ABILITY TO DO THESE INTERACTIVE
PROGRAMS WITH GUESTS, GIVES US A
LOT MORE ABILITY TO TALK UP
CLOSE WITH PEOPLE, LET THEM
ACTUALLY GET UP CLOSE WITH THESE
ANIMALS WHICH TO ME OR TO OUR
MIND IN THE GULFARIUM ALLOWS
THESE GUESTS TO REMEMBER, THEY
REMEMBER THESE EXPERIENCES A LOT
MORE, REMEMBER THE IDEA BEHIND
WHY WE HAVE THESE ANIMALS HERE
AND THEY TAKE AWAY A LOT MORE
THE MESSAGE THAN IF THEY WERE TO
READ A SIGN OR LOCK IN A BOOK,
THAT SORT OF THING.
>> HI.
HI MISSY.
WHAT YOU DOING?
>> GULFARIUM GUESTS MAY CHOOSE
TO FEED ABOUT A DOZEN HUNGRY
AFRICAN PENGUINS.
>> HI LITTLE BIRD.
>> WE DO DISCOVER PENGUIN FEEDS.
YOU GET TO GO IN WITH THE
PENGUINS WHICH IS REALLY FUN
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THEIR HABITAT
AND PENGUINS ARE SURROUNDING
YOU, YOU GET TO FEED THEM.
THEY COME UP TO YOU.
>> DON'T LET GO YET.
>> REACH IT TOWARD HIM BECAUSE
HE CAN'T SEE VERY WELL.
>> OF IS THATTERS CALL OUT THE
NAME OF EACH PENGUIN AS IT
RECEIVE AS FISH SO THAT ACCURATE
RECORDS CAN BE MAINTAINED ABOUT
THEIR NUTRITION.
>> TUCK IS A NINJA.
OREO.
GOOD JOB.
YOU CAN STAY RIGHT THERE.
>> THERE'S A TRAINER THERE,
DESCRIBING WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU
FEED THE PENGUINS AN POINT OUT
INDIVIDUALS BUT YOU ARE
DEFINITELY INSIDE THEIR HABITAT
WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S PRETTY FUN.
>> WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FISH?
HERE IS ONE, WHERE IS ONE THAT
LOOKS LIKE LIMA?
>> HERE IS ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE
--
>> TODAY MANY OF THE COUNTRIES
GREAT AQUARIUMS OFFER FLORIDA
SERVICE VIEWS BUT BACK IN THE
1950s, THIS GULFARIUM EXHIBIT
CALLED THE LIVING SEA WAS IN A
CLASS BY ITSELF.
VINTAGE PHOTOS ON THE WALL
RECALL DAYS WHEN VISITORS
ANORTHITE TEAR SEATS MARVELED AT
THE EXPLOITS OF A SCUBA DIVER AS
WELL AS THE DAS THE LING VARIETY
OF FISH AND OTHER CREATURES.
IT HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME, RIGHT
NOW IT IS A TROPICAL FISH
EXHIBIT, NO LONGER THE STADIUM
SEATING IN THERE BUT WE DO DO
DEMONSTRATIONS IN THERE DAILY
AND TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
ANIMALS AND ACTUALLY VERY SOON
WE'LL BE STARTING ANOTHER SCUBA
PRESENTATION SO WE HAVE ALMOST
COME FULL CIRCUMSTANCE WILL THE
THAT.
>> -- CIRCLE WITH THAT.
>> SHOW THEM THE SHARK.
SHOW WILL THE SHARK.
SEE THE SHARK?
>> OUR TIDE POOL OR TOUCH POOL
IS A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, WE
FIND IT'S ONE OF THE MORE
POPULAR EXHIBITS GIVEN THE FACT
KIDS OF ALL AGES CAN TOUCH THE
ANIMALS THEY'RE LOOK AT SO IN
THE TIDE POOL WE HAVE STAR FISH,
WE HAVE SEA CUCUMBERS CRABS, AND
YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS INTO THE
EXHIBIT AND TOUCH THE ANIMALS
AND SEE WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE.
>> AS FAR AS OUR STAFF THAT WORK
HERE, WE HAVE TWO THINGS THAT WE
REALLY FOCUS ON.
ONE IS OF COURSE OUR ANIMALS AN
EVERY STAFF MEMBER HERE
ABSOLUTELY LOVES THESE ANIMALS,
I CAN SAY THAT WITH FULL
CONFIDENCE.
SECOND THING IS, THEY WANT TO
SHARE WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE
ANIMALS WITH OUR VISITORS.
AND SO YOU'LL FIND THAT AT ANY
POINT WHEN YOU'RE HERE AT THE
PARK, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION,
ANY OF OUR STAFF WHETHER THEY
WORK IN THE GIFT SHOP OR WITH
THE ANIMALS OR WHETHER THEY WORK
IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND SHARE
THEIR PASSION AND THEIR LOVE.
>> NOT ONLY DOES IT TAKE A
DEDICATED STAFF TO KEEP THE
GULFARIUM OPERATING YEAR ROUND,
IT ALSO REQUIRES A REMARKABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE DOLPHIN HABITAT CONTAINS
OVER 300,000-GALLONS OF SALT
WATER.
THE AREA IS 70 FEET IN DIAMETER,
14 FEET DEEP, AND WAS BUILT
ENTIRELY WITH BATTLESHIP STEEL.
INTAKE PIPE 100 YARDS OUT INTO
THE GULF BRINGS 300-GALLONS OF
SEA WATER PER MINUTE INTO MORE
THAN A HALF A DOZEN HABITATS.
A STATE-OF-THE-ART FILTRATION
SYSTEM CONSTANTLY CIRCULATES TO
KEEP THE WATER CLEAN.
>> OOH LOT OF FOLKS DON'T
REALIZE HOW MUCH WORK GOES ON
BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP ALL
THESE EXHIBITS AND ANIMALS
HEALTHY.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY
THAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEHIND THE
EXHIBITS THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF
FILTERING OF WATER AND CLEANING
THAT PEOPLE JUST NEVER GET A
CHANCE TO SEE BUT IT IS ONE
THING THAT IS FAIRLY SPECTACULAR
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW A PLACE
LIKE THIS RUNS.
>> NOW THAT WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT OUR DOLPHIN, I WOULD
LIKE TO ANSWER A QUESTION THAT
WE GET ASKED PRETTY MUCH EVERY
DAY, HOW DO YOU TRAIN THE
BEHAVIORS YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE
SHOW.
>> WHEN TRAINING MARINE MAMMALS
BEHAVIORS ARE BROKEN DOWN IN
SMALL STEPS EASY TO ACHIEVE.
THE USE OF A TARGET SUCH AS POLL
OR HAND CONVEYS THE TRAINERS
INTENT.
>> STEP BY STEP THESE
INTELLIGENT ANIMALS ACCUMULATE
SKILLS THAT ALLOW THEM TO
DISPLAY COMPLEX BEHAVIORS AS
TAIL WALKING.
THE DOLPHINS WORK THEIR WAY UP
TO IT BY FOLLOWING A TRAINERS
FLAT OPEN PALM FORWARD OR
BACKWARD.
WHEN THEY MASTERED IT, NEARLY
80% OF THEIR BODIES ARE OUT OF
THE WATER.
>> IT'S INTERESTING ABOUT MARINE
ANIMAL TRAINER IS YOU MIGHT HAVE
A DEGREE BUT IT'S A LOT OF ON
THE JOB LEARNING.
>> YOU CAN'T KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT BEING AN ANIMAL TRAINER
AND WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT
SPECIES.
YOU'RE LEARNING SOMETHING EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
>> MY COLLEGE DEGREE IS IN
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGY WITH
A MINOR IN BIOLOGY.
I FOUND THIS PSYCHOLOGY ASPECT
OF ANIMAL TRAINING VERY
INTERESTING.
>> THESE UNIQUE ENTERTAINING
ENCOUNTERS THAT WE OFFER HERE AT
THE GULFARIUM IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING A FUN FACTOR THEY
PROVIDE AN AWESOME CONSERVATION
MESSAGE SO WE HAVE GUESTS FROM
THE COUNTRY THAT COME AND
INTERACT WITH THE AMAZING
ANIMALS THAT MAYBE INSPIRE THEM
TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE THEM IN
THE FUTURE SO THAT MESHES WITH
THEIR HOME COMMUNITY.
>> THE MARINE MAMMAL ACT OF 1972
PROTECTS MARINE ANIMALS FROM
HARASSMENT, FEEDING APPROACHING
TO WE CAN PROTECT THE ANIMALS SO
DURING THE PROGRAMS WE TRY TO
PASS ON THAT INFORMATION TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW ALL THE REGULATION
SO THEY ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THEM
AS WELL BECAUSE BY APPROACHING
MARINE ANIMALS, IT TEACHES IT
CAN LEAD TO OTHER THINGS LIKE
FULL PROPELLER STRIKES ENTANGLE
LMENT AND INTENTIONAL HARM FROM
HUMANS.
>> THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
OUR DOLPHINS IS OUR PRIMARY
CONCERN NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENT
ANIMALS BUT OTHER OCEAN COUNTER
PARTS.
IT'S OUR HOPE WHEN YOU HEAD BACK
TO YOUR COMMUNITY YOU'LL SPREAD
THE WORD ABOUT DANGERS MARINE
MAMMALS FACE TODAY.
>> THE GULFARIUM SEA TURTLE CARE
PROGRAM RELEASED HUNDREDS OF SEA
TURTLES BACK TO THE WILD.
CARE STANDS FOR CONSERVE, ACT,
REHABILITATE AND PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY, EDUCATE.
>> SO EVERYBODY CAN GET A REALLY
GOOD VIEW IF WE CAN DO A NICE
WIDE --
>> THE RELEASE OF A GREEN SEA
TURTLE NAMED ALEA BACK INTO
SANTA ROSA SOUND WAS A TEACHABLE
MOMENT FOR DOZENS OF SCHOOL AGE
CHILDREN.
>> HE'S GOING TO SPLASH YOU.
>>
>> IN THE EVENT SOMETHING LIKE
SOMEBODY APPROXIMATING A SEA --
CATCHING A SEA TURTLE OR FINDING
A SICK SEA TURTLE, THEY NEED TO
CALL FWC.
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION.
THESE ARE FOLKS WE WORK WITH TO
ACTUALLY RUN THESE KIND OF
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS THAT WE
DO.
THEY HAVE WILDLIFE HOTLINE, YOU
CAN CALL THEM AS SOON AS THEY
GET THECAL THEY'LL GIVE US A
CALL AND WE CAN GET THE TURTLE
TO OUR FACILITY AND NURSE IT
BACK TO HEALTH.
>> IT'S NAMED AFTER MY NIECE
ALEA.
WE WERE FISHING OVER THERE
UNDERNEATH THE BROOKS BRIDGE AND
IT TOOK MY BAIT AND APPARENTLY
THE HOOK GOT HOOKED IN HIS JAW
BONE SO WE BROUGHT IT IN.
>> IT'S ONE THING WHEN YOU'RE IN
SCHOOL AND LEARNING ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT AND THESE ANIMALS,
SEEING PICTURES OR VIDEOS BUT IT
MAKES SO MUCH MORE IMPACT WHEN
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THOSE
ANIMALS UP CLOSE AND BE PART OF
ACTUALLY CONSERVATION HAPPENING.
THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T PUT
A PRICE ON AND IT'S AN EXTREMELY
VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THAT
CHILD AND P THAT FAMILY AND THE
FUTURE.
>> WHENEVER THESE GUYS FIRST
HATCH THEY WEIGH AN OUNCE SO
THEY'RE TINY.
AND VERY CUTE AT THAT SIZE.
SO PEOPLE SEE THEM AS PETS, NOT
REALLY REALIZE DON'T DO THE
RESEARCH TO FIND OUT HOW BIG
THEY GET AND OBVIOUSLY HOW MUCH
CARE IT TAKES TO TAKE CARE OF
THESE GUYS AT THIS SIZE.
SO THEY END UP LOOKING FOR NEW
HOMES OR SOMETIMES TURNING THEM
LOOSE.
ALL FOUR OF THESE TORTOISES WERE
KEPT AS PETS AT ONE POINT.
AFRICAN SPUR ARE FOUND AROUND
FLORIDA AS EXOTIC SPECIES FROM
PEOPLE RELEASING THEM AFTER THEY
HAVE THEM AS PETS.
>> THOUGH THE GULFARIUM PROVIDES
CARE FOR SOME EXOTIC SPECIES
THAT PEOPLE HAD BEEN KEEPING AS
PETS, ITS GOAL WAS TO ASSIST THE
PUBLIC IN FINDING GOOD HOMES
ELSEWHERE.
>> THE GULFARIUM HAS PARTNERED
WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO
HOST AN EXOTIC PET DAY.
THIS ALLOWS PET OWNERS WHO CAN
NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THEIR
PETS, BRING THEM IN AND SUFFER
REASON DO THEM WITHOUT PENALTY
OR FINES ORENING LIKE THAT AND
THEN THE STATE IS ABLE TO GET
THOSE ANIMALS INTO THE HANDS OF
ADOPTERS WHO ARE FOLKS THAT CAN
TAKE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS AND
CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THEIR NEEDS
IN THE LONG TERM.
>> OUR MISSION AT THE GULFARIUM
IS TO EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN
PEOPLE.
TO RESPECT AND PRESERVE WILDLIFE
BY PROVIDING THEM UNIQUE AND
MEMORABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE
A CONNECTION WITH ANIMALS.
>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS
ABOUT THIS JOB IS BEING ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I'M
PASSIONATE ABOUT TO PEOPLE EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
THAT MAIN TOPIC IS A
CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS THAT I
LOVE.
>> I ACTUALLY CAME HERE WHEN I
WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND TOLD
MYSELF THAT I WANTED TO WORK
HERE ONE DAY AND I ACTUALLY MADE
MY DREAM COME TRUE.
>> I ALWAYS GREW UP AROUND THE
OCEAN, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO DO
THAT.
AND I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS
SO IT WAS DEFINITELY A BONUS TO
COMBINE THE TWO.
WHAT'S REALLY AWESOME ABOUT THE
GULFARIUM IS THE WIDE VARIETY
THAT WE HAVE AND HOW CLOSE YOU
CAN GET TO THEM, JUST BY BEING A
GUEST.
>> FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
ADMISSION AND FEES, LOG ON TO
GULFARIUM.COM.
THE PARK IS OPEN YEAR ROUND AND
IS CLOSED ONLY ON THANKSGIVING
DAY AND CHRISTMAS.
GULFARIUM IS LOCATED ON MIRACLE
STRIP PARKWAY ALSO KNOWN AS US
HIGHWAY 98 IN FORT WALTON BEACH.
FROM DESTIN TAKE HIGHWAY 98 WEST
ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO OKALOOSA
ISLAND AND CONTINUE FIVE MILES.
GULF ARA MARINE AD INVENTORY CHU
PARK WILL BE ON YOUR LEFT.
FROM PENSACOLA TAKE HIGHWAY 98
EAST INTO FORT WALTON BEACH.
CROSS THE BROOKS BRIDGE ON TO
OKALOOSA ISLAND AND CONTINUE ONE
QUARTER MILE.
THE GULFARIUM WILL BE ON YOUR
RIGHT.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS
EXPLORATION OF ONE OF THE GULF
COAST'S MOST BELOVED
ATTRACTIONS.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME