Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Madeline and Erin sit down with Aquarists Jackie Simpson and Emily Smith to explore one of the most fascinating and underappreciated parts of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific: target training. You might picture sea lions doing flips or birds following a hand signal, but target training reaches far deeper into the aquarium than most guests ever realize. From zebra sharks to tiny puffers, every animal at the Aquarium engages with its environment in ways shaped by the people who care for them.In this episode:What target training actually is and why it matters for animal health and welfareHow fish and invertebrates are trained differently from marine mammals and birdsThe story of Nandor the zebra shark, who figured out target training all on his ownHow Fern the zebra shark swims herself into the husbandry pool on cueThe octopus who learned to sit on the edge of the basket instead of climbing inFreddie the Queensland grouper and how his target moved from the surface to a diver's chestWhat it looks like to target train archerfish using their own natural behaviorWhy sharks are actually pretty timid animals and what would really happen if you fell in the tankHow Jackie and Emily found their way to the Aquarium of the Pacific and what they'd tell aspiring aquaristsGet involved:Support the Aquarium of the Pacific, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at pacific.to/donate. Your membership and donations make care like this possible every single day.Episode resources:TranscriptMichael the parrotfish enjoying his favorite snack, cilantroLearn more about animal care at the Aquarium of the PacificStay connected: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed to Aquarium of the Podcific wherever you are listening, and leave us a five-star review! It goes a long way in helping new listeners find the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Email us at [email protected]! Follow the Aquarium of the Pacific across social media (@aquariumpacific) for fun animal videos, conservation updates, and more. Follow the podcast's own Instagram (@podcific) for episode updates and behind-the-scenes content.Thanks for listening!

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