Interview With Steve Smith-Director of Animal Care & Facilities at ECHO Center, VT

Interview with Steve Smith- Director of Animal Care and Facilities at ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center, Vermont

How did you get into your job as director of animal care?

I've been in this field since 1980. I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Animal Behavior. I volunteered at a zoo  in Indiana and saw many things I felt I could improve upon. I've worked with every animal from insects to elephants, at seven different institutions. I've worked with seals, sea lions, dolphins, and beluga whales, but I have never worked with killer whales.

How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

"Blackfish" in general has affected the general public by bring it to the attention of those who might not have been aware of what goes on in captive care.

Do you think "Blackfish"s portrayal was accurate? Why or why not?

I've been in the captive care world all of my life. It's always impacted me to see how animals are affected, if they're adversely affected. I worked in an elephant sanctuary where we let them choose whether or not they wanted to work with us, and rewarded with positive reinforcement. You have to look at the continuum that exists in captivity- there's a way to care for animals that's respectful of each species needs. At the extreme of the continuum, some animals can't be suitably housed and cared for in captivity. In our interactions with the animals, we have a responsibility to sometimes train them to do things to maintain their heath in captive care. Sometimes the training leans more towards entertainment.  I question the benefit of training and interactions that are more for entertainment. Some institutions try to justify training for entertainment by coupling it with educational or conservation messages.  In spite of those messages, I have to wonder what guests come away with; do they respect the animal and the educational message or do they just remember the dancing animal.

In what physical and/or psychological ways are animals affected by captivity?

Animals outside of  their natural environments, sometimes show repeated, stereotypical behaviors when unable to do what they want to do. We have a responsibility to provide suitable quality and quantity of space. Also, the spatial restrictions of captivity can lead to aggression when animals are unable to put distance between other animals in the same captive habitat.  We have a responsibility to recognize and respond to these behavioral needs in captive animals. With some animals, that is more easily accomplished. With some animals, it may be impossible. For example, when ECHO first opened,  one of the first animals we brought in was the pike. They never settled down, they never acclimated  to the captive condition, so we  phased them out of our collection plan. Many zoos have opted  out of keeping elephants because they cannot commit to the resources that are necessary to maintain elephants properly. Perhaps it's time to think about killer whales in the same light.

What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? Would this be a positive or negative change?

Animals serve as ambassadors for their species and their environment. This is very important in urban environments. Urban environments serve as leaders for our culture, but they are often the most detached from the natural world. Captivity maintains this important link. If captivity were to disappear, this would have an adverse impact on our understanding of wildlife and therefore diminish the beneficial effect of conservation efforts. When visitors ask questions and want to know more about the species, you can see that you've planted a seed and made a change in a family's mindset.

What are some positive steps that zoos and aquariums could take to improve the quality of life of the captive animals?

It is important to create a an appropriate habitat for the animal in captivity in order to create appreciation for the animal and its environment. Saving a species is almost pointless if we don't have a habitat to put them in. And again, back to that continuum, it's easier to create an appropriate habitat for a tiny frog like a spring peeper than it is for something huge and highly social like an elephant or a killer whale. If an institution doesn't have or want to commit the appropriate  resources to support a specific species in captivity, then they need to think about phasing  out that species. It is a tough decision, but it may become easier as films like Blackfish are produced and make their impact on zoo and aquarium guests and supporters.