Can Mr. Manatee Turn Right? Yes He Can! - IMATA 2015

Positive reinforcement training is an incredible tool. It can teach sea lions to visit the doctor, and killer whales new exercise routines.
It can even help a manatee from West Africa learn about a whole new world, just to the right of him.
At IMATA 2015, Ming Ying Hsieh, part of the animal training staff of Farglory Ocean Park, presented the fascinating tale of Mr. Manatee, a manatee living at the Taiwanese facility, who only turned to the left side when moving. Even if one of the trainers stationed on his right, Mr. Manatee would make an entire left turn to reach their position.
It’s a unique problem, and one that can be solved with unique and innovate training. The team at Farglory Ocean Park went right to work on helping Mr. Manatee reach his full range of motion while swimming.