How do I become a killer whale trainer?

Question

How do I become a killer whale trainer?

Answer 1

Serena's answer is excellent, and I wish the best to both of you.  But as you know, there is no shortage of people who look hot in wet suits and have stage presence, and the ones who get the jobs are the ones who have more to offer.

Start by learning everything you can about cetaceans in general, because you probably won't be working with orcas only wherever you work. Few dolphin trainers are cetologists (cetacean experts) and being one would certainly make you stand out from the others.  Fortunately, becoming a competent cetologist is easier than becoming an expert in just about any other area of science simply because we know so little about the cetaceans.  

But even more important, you must approach your work with a most profound humility because you are going to run into the same problems your dog has teaching you new tricks and for the same reasons.  The problem will not be in teaching the orca to do tricks, the problem will be to make the orca want to do tricks when you want them done.  Most dolphin trainers use food and affection for motivation, but I would add one more reward that I don't believe anyone has tried yet— old Warner Bros. cartoons!  Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester, Elmer Fudd and Roadrunner cartoons.  I would show them half an hours worth of cartoons for every good show and for every good practice session, and I would have two different ones going at the same time for the entire period.  You couldn't fully enjoy two programs at once any more than you could enjoy trying to have two different conversations at once, but orcas are known to carry on from five to eight conversations simultaneously using three separate voice boxes at the same time, so following two cartoons at once would be a piece of cake for them, one with each eye, and would probably provide the closest thing to intellectual stimulation in their environment.  Every cetacean I know of that has been given the opportunity to watch these cartoons has really watched them intently, and they don't seem to get tired of them any more than we do.  

I've never been a dolphin trainer, but I've had thousands of encounters with killer whales and other dolphins off the Southern California coast, about half of which happened when I was in a kayak, and if you'd had a bit of experience like that, you would definitely stand out from other dolphin trainer wannabes.  

If you live in Southern California, get involved in the Whale Watch Program at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro and get some free training and some experience as a whale watch guide under your belt, for starters.  If you aren't already an experienced public speaker, this program will make you one, painlessly, and will make you an expert to boot.  In one semester, they will teach you enough to turn you loose as an authority representing The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the American Cetacean Society, which will look impressive on your resumé.  If you don't live in Southern California, find an excuse to get out there from September through May and take advantage of this unique free opportunity to make yourself stand out in a crowded field.  There is nothing like this program anywhere else in the world that I know of.

While you're out there, take up open-ocean kayaking, take a Coast Guard Auxiliary or Power Squadron safe boating course, and spend some time off the coast learning about dolphins in the wild.  Take your certificate of completion with you when you go out to show the Coast Guard if they want to know just what the h**l you think you're doing out there.  

Good luck!

Answer 2

Well, a lot of self-discipline, for starters. We may share the same dream, because this is what I wish to be, eventually.

You better hope you are an amazing swimmer, because that is the core to being a trainer at aquariums like SeaWorld. Trainers have to be in top physical shape anyway, even out of the water. You need to look good in a wetsuit too, or atleast comfortable to be infront of crowds wearing one.

Speaking of large crowds, you need to be good infront of 'em. Trainers perform before thousands of people each day, as well as talking to them. Trainers are bound to make mistakes during the shows, so you'd have to be alright with being embarrassed once in awhile, or simply able to laugh at yourself.

Can you work good in teams? That's the way trainers work together, with the other trainers AND the actual whales. Together.

Hope this helps you for a basic start :)