UWM grad helps zoo’s seals show their stuff

UWM biology grad Kelly Kamrath has been working at Oceans of Fun at the Milwaukee County Zoo since even before she graduated, as both a volunteer and intern. Soon after graduation 1996, Kamrath was hired full time and has been there ever since.

Kamrath works with the seals and sea lions regularly, constantly building trust and respect. The shows entertain and educate, with the animals acting as ambassadors of a sort for their counterparts in the wild.

The shows build on the animals’ natural behavior, coupled with lots of positive reinforcement.

But the training is not just to entertain. The animals are trained to present their eyes, ears, mouths and other parts willingly, so that medical care and grooming can be provided more easily.