Oh I so loved watching this! He's SUCH A big boy and doing incredibly well with his training! Although I wonder what the female trainer was trying to get him to do with the target? Try and get him to have his tail sticking up, like the others when the wave "goodbye"? Anyway, I'm so proud of that boy, and he looks happy! :)
She was trying to get him to follow the target pole straight down for the fluke wave. I think she just wanted him to start getting in the right position but ultimately the final product will be the "wave goodbye" you're familiar with. :)
Maybe kind of a weird question, but do the orcas seem to learn from each other? Like, do the older ones ever try to show the calves some of the behaviors? or do the calves try to copy the behaviors they see the older orcas do? It just occurred to me it might have been helpful for Makani to understand the fluke wave if the trainers had had another orca do it first to show him.
No it's a good question, and they do. I have a video of Kalia showing Shouka how to use the slideover and Makani learned how to do a ton of behaviors by mimicking the other whales, including the fluke wave. Calves start out at first by learning from and copying the adults (hunting behavior for wild orcas and trained behaviors for orcas in human care). He is totally capable of doing the fluke wave if he's doing it with another orca, but the reason why they are completely starting from scratch here with the target pole is so that he can learn the concept on his own, and ultimately be able to do it himself. There is a sort of transition from observational learning to behavioral shaping in SeaWorld orcas. Does that make sense?
EchoBeluga Yes, that does make sense. Thanks for the answer! One more question : Do you know why the trainer spins at 3:51-3:57? It looks like she's cueing him to do something, but he doesn't seem to do any behaviors related to it.
daughteroftiaran Great, no problem! She is asking him for a hula which he knows how to do on his own but that time he didn't do it. She was trying to end the session with him doing a behavior right and thought he could with the hula, but since he didn't she asked for vocals which he did do successfully and was able to end the session.
I love makani and orkid and my trainer wow... A high jump singal giving rubs and eat poles Makani trys again get a signal gets back to the trainer and raise your flipper
He is getting bigger and more clever he is such a clever boy "Well Done Makani"
Oh I so loved watching this! He's SUCH A big boy and doing incredibly well with his training! Although I wonder what the female trainer was trying to get him to do with the target? Try and get him to have his tail sticking up, like the others when the wave "goodbye"? Anyway, I'm so proud of that boy, and he looks happy! :)
She was trying to get him to follow the target pole straight down for the fluke wave. I think she just wanted him to start getting in the right position but ultimately the final product will be the "wave goodbye" you're familiar with. :)
So adorable! I want to play and chat with Makani all day!
Favorite Animals at Seaworld
1. Orkid (Orca)
2.Makani (Orca)
3.Clyde (Sea Lion)
Apple Juice dora hahahah
you do realize that there is more than one "Clyde", right?
Adorable! what is that...it looks like a indent in the frontish bit of his right eye patch. Is it a dimple?
namuchildtake2 It's a small rake mark which has healed since October.
ahhh. Ok, I was just wondering thank you>
Maybe kind of a weird question, but do the orcas seem to learn from each other? Like, do the older ones ever try to show the calves some of the behaviors? or do the calves try to copy the behaviors they see the older orcas do?
It just occurred to me it might have been helpful for Makani to understand the fluke wave if the trainers had had another orca do it first to show him.
No it's a good question, and they do. I have a video of Kalia showing Shouka how to use the slideover and Makani learned how to do a ton of behaviors by mimicking the other whales, including the fluke wave. Calves start out at first by learning from and copying the adults (hunting behavior for wild orcas and trained behaviors for orcas in human care). He is totally capable of doing the fluke wave if he's doing it with another orca, but the reason why they are completely starting from scratch here with the target pole is so that he can learn the concept on his own, and ultimately be able to do it himself. There is a sort of transition from observational learning to behavioral shaping in SeaWorld orcas. Does that make sense?
EchoBeluga Yes, that does make sense. Thanks for the answer!
One more question : Do you know why the trainer spins at 3:51-3:57? It looks like she's cueing him to do something, but he doesn't seem to do any behaviors related to it.
daughteroftiaran
Great, no problem! She is asking him for a hula which he knows how to do on his own but that time he didn't do it. She was trying to end the session with him doing a behavior right and thought he could with the hula, but since he didn't she asked for vocals which he did do successfully and was able to end the session.
EchoBeluga Okay, thanks!
Does Makani and Nakai have freckles too? Just like Their sisters Kalia and Takara?
+Mature Reader Not that I know of, at least not any obvious ones.
+Jae Ha Nope. Amaya does have one freckle though :)
I love makani and orkid and my trainer wow... A high jump singal giving rubs and eat poles
Makani trys again get a signal gets back to the trainer and raise your flipper
I picked that name makani no one chosen that name
I wish he could stay with me!
How old is Makani now?
He'll be two February 14th!
One, he'll be two February 14th.
I can't believe how much he knows for only being almost 2....