IMATA: Homecoming

After the COVID-19 Pandemic caused a two-year hiatus, IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers' Association) will start off the new year by returning to in-person conferences at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The week-long conference will run from February 27th through March 5th. This organization is dedicated to advancing the care of marine animals in zoological facilities by fostering communication between zoo and aquarium professionals who serve marine animal science through training, public display, research, husbandry, conservation, and education.

Now through January 1st, you can sign up to attend the conference through early registration. Members can save $100 for a full week experience for just $469, while non-members can also save $100 for the same experience for just $569. Anyone who plans to attend the conference for a single day can spend just $100 if they’re a member or $225 if they are not IMATA members.

All Attendees will take a visit to Shedd Aquarium, the conference's host, for a single evening event.

Register early and one will receive a free conference t-shirt for signing up for the full-week experience.

• Since this is the first conference for IMATA since the start of the pandemic, their policies regarding COVID-19 have been and will continue to be updated under the City of Chicago.
• All attendees must provide valid photo IDs and proof of COVID-19 vaccination within two weeks after a second vaccination dose.
• Negative COVID-19 tests will not be accepted instead of vaccination cards.
• Proof of vaccination will be required to admittance to the Raddison Blu Hotel, and to Shedd Aquarium.
• Masks will be provided to those who do not have one on them.

Why Annual Conferences?

Conferences are a great way for facilities to share ideas on how to improve the quality of life for their animals, the habitats they call home, and how to better educate the public on the animals in question. These ideas can comprise new training methods, better husbandry, improving animal habitats, and looking into better outreach programs that the public can benefit from. These conferences also provide a platform for scientists to share research on animal behavior, anatomy, and physiology and how it can apply to conservation efforts in wild settings.

In addition, a conference can enable anyone from the zoo and aquarium community to not only improve their skills as professionals and caregivers but also, learn how to be better environmental stewards intending to empower their communities to know and love animals and preserve their wild habitats.

What to Expect at the 2021 IMATA Conference

This year’s annual conference will have a lot in store for anyone who is looking to become a zoo or aquarium professional; or is already one. Furthermore, is looking for ways to improve their skills, during this exciting week-long event. For example, you can expect two seminar classes with EVP; and chief training officer Ken Ramirez, of Karen Pryor Clicker Training. One is an introduction to animal training, and the other focuses on secrets and tips behind successful animal husbandry and care. Taking a single class costs $75 while taking both will cost about $125.

The conference will also feature two-panel discussions during the event. One titled Organizational Response to COVID-19 will focus on how the pandemic affected the behavior and well-being of animals in both zoological facilities and in the wild. The second discussion titled “LRS (Least Reinforcing Scenario)” will discuss the concept of LRS starting from its conception at SeaWorld Orlando in the early 1990s.

There will also be a three-part career event aimed at promoting networking within the marine zoological community. It will comprise a resume workshop, an interview skills workshop, and on that following Thursday, the last event will focus on networking and hiring.

It’s definitely not a conference without a week of interesting presentations on animal training, husbandry, and care along with some interesting facts on conservation efforts carried out by the zoo and aquarium community.

Presentations for 2/28 at 1:45 PM

• Using Accelerometers to Estimate Cost Locomotion and Total Energy Expenditure of Bottlenose Dolphins.
• How Can Elephant-Caregiver Interactions in Zoos Influence Perceptions of Elephant Welfare States and Emotions?
• How We Trained The Concept “Be Creative” to Evaluate the Creativity of Killer Whales.

3/1 Presentations at 10 AM

• Meet Eve: The Enclosure Video Enrichment System for US Navy-Marine Mammals.
• Effects of a Cooperative Enrichment Device on Antagonistic Interactions in a Group of Female Bottlenose Dolphins.
• Transfer the Concept of Mark Behavior, From Conditioning in Bottlenose Dolphins to Other Species.
• “Don’t You Forget Out Me”/Lessons We Can Learn from the Animals in Our Care.

3/1 Presentations at 11:15 AM

• Benefits of Cognitive Behavior for a Physically Limited Animal.
• Voluntary Cetacean Tooth Removal: No String or doorknob required.
• Managing a Sea Lion with Epilepsy Through an Interneuron Transplant Procedure.

3/1 Presentations at 2 PM

• The Dolphin Company Corporate Environmental Education Department Going Through a Pandemic, Challenges, and New Opportunities.
• Control Training Methods for Bottlenose Dolphins During the Pandemic Period in Order Not to Decrease Animal Welfare Despite the Reduction of Training Staff at The Lisbon Zoo.
• Creation of the First Mexican Association for Marine Mammal Specialists.
• Mission-Based Dialogue as a Tool for Communication Success.

3/2 Presentations at 10 AM

• May Association Between Individual Dolphins, Their Personality, and Their Attitude Tells Us Something About Their Welfare?
• Enabling Animals to Moderate Their Own State of Being to Generate Responsive Behavior and Avoid Anxiety.

3/2 Presentations at 1:30 PM

• Going Beyond the Crate: Training a Social Group of Ten California Sea Lions for all Aspects of Transport.
• Napoleon Complex: Behavioral Management and Cooperative Training with Ringed Seals at the Alaska Sealife Center.
• Welcome to the Bachelor Party: Managing a Male-Only Group of Thick-Billed Murres.

3/3 Presentations at 9 AM

• The Story of Lumiere: Shining a Light on Rescue.
• Training a Range Discrimination Task with Four Bottlenose Dolphins.

3/3 Presentations at 11:15 AM

• Integrated Conservation Planning for Cetaceans: A One-Plan Approach
• The Story of Freja, The World’s Oldest Porpoise, and Her Contribution to Wildlife Conservation.

3/3 Presentations at 1:15 PM

• Strategies and Training Plans to Control the Frequency, Intensity, and Depth of Exhalation, Inhalation, and Apnea in Bottlenose Dolphins Under Discriminative Stimuli.
• Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment in a Bottlenose Dolphin at Brookfield Zoo.
• The Role of The Automatic Nervous System in Training of Asian Small-Clawed Otters.
• Mergin Animal and Research Facilities to Educate and Learn from Animal Cognition.

3/4 Presentations at 9 AM

• Wild Displays: How Exhibiting Animals Contributes to Wildlife Conservation.
• Rescue and Rehabilitation of Wild Marine Fauna in Mar de Plata, Argentina: Our Commitment as Specialists.

3/4 Presentations at 9:30 AM

• Preparing for Procedures: Training California Sea Lion to take part in Her Own Cataract Surgery; and Related Husbandry Behaviors.

Don’t forget the Guest Speakers.

Throughout the week, the IMATA conference will host six guest speakers to speak about their own experience with animals in human care, how to improve their quality of life in a zoological setting, and protecting their wild habitats. These six speakers are listed below:

• Dr. Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., President, and CEO of American Humane
• Dr. Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Utah State University.
• Ken Ramirez, EVP, and Chief Training Officer, Karen Pryor Clicker Training.
• Jill Allread, Principal Owner, Public Communications Inc.
• Julie Scardina, Animal Trainer, Conservationist, and Public Speaker.

No words can describe what a wonderful feeling it is for the IMATA family to return to welcoming zoo and aquarium professionals from around to in-person conferences two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Getting to learn how facilities pulled through during the pandemic and how they continue to empower people to care about animals and their ever-shrinking habitats will be one that is full of inspiration that the community can use to become better environmental stewards.

For those who are curious about how modern zoos and aquariums work, I highly recommend them to attend the event for long they wish to be there.

If you wish to attend, please visit IMATA’s site to register for the conference.