Blood
sampling is an important part of monitoring the health of seals and sea lions
at the New England Aquarium, but how do you find a blood vessel under all of
that fur? The seals and sea lions recognize the marine mammal staff, and they
spend hours eating, playing, observing, and interacting each day. This
familiarity plays a role in the animals’ willingness to cooperate during blood
sampling and other diagnostics. In an effort to gain a fuller understanding,
Jenny Montague, assistant curator of marine mammals, applied for the 2013 John
H. Cunningham Award, a professional development program for Aquarium staff to
further their knowledge in a particular area. She has known several of the
seals in the collection since they were newborns but needed training to locate
and draw from a large blood vessel under the fur and blubber. Her award funded
a trip to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif., and the experience of
a lifetime. To register online, click here.
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