Wait...this isn't a marine animal. What the heck is this, you ask?
This is my intern project! Well, an aspect of it, at least. This is a target designed for 3 young blacktip pups we have in our care that indicates where they will be fed. My project is to train them that this object = food!
But why is this important? Well, while the pups are in a smaller holding tank for now, they will eventually go into the largest exhibit in the aquarium, where they will be rubbing fins with 14 foot green sawfish, sand tigers, and sandbars. Sounds overwhelming for a couple of little blacktips, right?
Target training at a young age is critical for sharks that will belong to a larger exhibit so that on top of learning the rules of the roost alongside your new tank mates, you don't have to also learn how you're going to get fed!
