IMATA and AZA Super Conference 2014

Image Credit: IMATA.org

By Cameron Bullock

IMATA: While it may sound like a word from a foreign language, you’re really talking about the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association.

IMATA was founded to foster communication, professionalism and cooperation among those who serve marine mammal science through training, public display, research, husbandry, conservation, and education. IMATA has served as an outlet for trainers, aspiring trainers, and even scientists gathering and learn more about marine mammals.

IMATA gives its members a unique opportunity to discuss new training techniques, research, and job opportunities with people from all walks of life with an interest in marine mammals. I encourage anyone of interest to look at IMATA’s website and use it as a learning tool in the marine mammal profession.

The AZA, or Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a group that accredits zoos and aquariums to insure their facility is up to the standards.

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) provides its members the services, high standards and best practices needed to be leaders and innovators in animal care, wildlife conservation and science, conservation education, the guest experience, and community engagement.

Essentially IMATA and AZA serve the same purpose: to be an outlet for members of the zoological field, however IMATA does not accredit facilities.

So after a brief lesson, what do these two groups have to do with each other?

For the first time ever, IMATA and AZA have coordinated a joint annual conference.

It’s dramatically entitled the IMATA AND AZA SUPER CONFERENCE 2014 and it will host some of the most respected men and women in the zoological community. There will be education presentations, training seminars, icebreakers at SeaWorld Orlando, a zoo day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and much much more.

Why is this so important?

In the zoological field obviously there’s two main groups; the aquarium/marine world and the zoo world. AZA accredits all of these but many that work at those facilities are also a member of IMATA. By having a joint conference you gain the ability of the best minds in the entire industry to discuss upcoming breakthroughs in their field.

The conference will be September 14th – 18th at the Disney Coronado Springs in Orlando Florida and stands to be the most enriching and exciting conference IMATA and its members have seen.

There much more I’d like to discuss about IMATA, AZA and the work that they do, but on a more personal note, I will be presenting on my research regarding the effectiveness of Dolphin Assisted Recreational Therapy among veterans with PTSD at IMATA early next week.

As much as I would like this segment to be about my presentation, I’m unable to forget that some notoriously uninformed “animal rights” groups plan to protest at this year’s IMATA conference. As I mentioned before I will be presenting on a new type of therapy for veterans with PTSD that includes dolphins in the care of man. It is sickening to know that those same activists will stand outside and directly protest my presentation because it uses captive dolphins in research that aims to benefit the men and women that fought in wars – wars that protect the very freedom to protest.

I welcome anyone who would like to hear more about my presentation to either attend it on September 16, at 4:00 or contact me on Facebook.

To those planning to protest our conference I say this: you will see no hate from us. We won’t protest you; we won’t yell at you; we won’t bother you. We will show you the respect that human beings ought to show each other. While you preach your hate: IMATA, AZA, and all of their members will show their love.

Author: Cameron Bullock