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School for the Deaf stops to smooch the dolphins | IndyStar.com
They say you never forget your first kiss, and surely the expression especially applies to first dolphin kisses.
Kayla McDaniel's smooch with 7-year-old Kalei was memorable.
Kayla, a 15-year-old eighth-grader at the Indiana School for the Deaf, 1200 E. 42nd St., and three classmates participated Thursday in the in-water dolphin adventure at the Indianapolis Zoo. For a little more than a month, groups of students from the school have rotated through for the dolphin encounter. The program also is available to other individuals or groups who want to register.
After taking in a brief classroom session for basic facts about dolphins and watching the dolphins' public performance, the students donned light wetsuits and safety vests to wade in with three of the friendly mammals and several trainers.
During that portion, Sarah Bachman, a senior marine animal trainer, had Kalei hop out of the water onto her belly on a small peninsula, and raise her tail into a pose so the students could plant a kiss on her snout for a quick picture.
Through sign language interpreters Charlotte Winston and Beth Lester, the girls gushed about their dolphin contact.
"Kissing the dolphins'' was the best part, said Jenna Smith, 14, Indianapolis. "I definitely got a good taste,'' Kayla deadpanned. And yes, it was a slightly fishy taste, the girls agreed.
"I'm 14 years old and I had never touched a dolphin!" added Hillary Peters, also from Indianapolis.
Stacey Lonski, a senior marine mammal trainer, worked with Nova, Kalei's mother, to get her to make specific sounds on command. The students already had learned that dolphins have no vocal cords, and all the sounds they make come from their blowholes, not their mouths.
As Lonski prompted Nova, she had Jenna and Kayla place their hands on the animal's dome, just in front of the blowhole, to feel the muscles used to make the sounds. Except that Nova had her own notions about what she wanted to do. When Lonski asked for a cheerful clicking sound, Nova produced one that sounds a bit impolite -- let's call it a raspberry.
Dolphins will do what they want and can't be forced to do what they don't want to, and they have distinct personalities and moods, said Desiree Brandon, conservation instructor at the zoo.
Tolly Foster, who designs interactive, special programs for the zoo, said most participants arrive enthusiastic.
"Getting them excited about dolphins is really not something we have to work at, but educating them about dolphins is,'' she said. "The goal is that they will get a concept that they are part of a bigger world.''
They say you never forget your first kiss, and surely the expression especially applies to first dolphin kisses.
Kayla McDaniel's smooch with 7-year-old Kalei was memorable.
Kayla, a 15-year-old eighth-grader at the Indiana School for the Deaf, 1200 E. 42nd St., and three classmates participated Thursday in the in-water dolphin adventure at the Indianapolis Zoo. For a little more than a month, groups of students from the school have rotated through for the dolphin encounter. The program also is available to other individuals or groups who want to register.
After taking in a brief classroom session for basic facts about dolphins and watching the dolphins' public performance, the students donned light wetsuits and safety vests to wade in with three of the friendly mammals and several trainers.
During that portion, Sarah Bachman, a senior marine animal trainer, had Kalei hop out of the water onto her belly on a small peninsula, and raise her tail into a pose so the students could plant a kiss on her snout for a quick picture.
Through sign language interpreters Charlotte Winston and Beth Lester, the girls gushed about their dolphin contact.
"Kissing the dolphins'' was the best part, said Jenna Smith, 14, Indianapolis. "I definitely got a good taste,'' Kayla deadpanned. And yes, it was a slightly fishy taste, the girls agreed.
"I'm 14 years old and I had never touched a dolphin!" added Hillary Peters, also from Indianapolis.
Stacey Lonski, a senior marine mammal trainer, worked with Nova, Kalei's mother, to get her to make specific sounds on command. The students already had learned that dolphins have no vocal cords, and all the sounds they make come from their blowholes, not their mouths.
As Lonski prompted Nova, she had Jenna and Kayla place their hands on the animal's dome, just in front of the blowhole, to feel the muscles used to make the sounds. Except that Nova had her own notions about what she wanted to do. When Lonski asked for a cheerful clicking sound, Nova produced one that sounds a bit impolite -- let's call it a raspberry.
Dolphins will do what they want and can't be forced to do what they don't want to, and they have distinct personalities and moods, said Desiree Brandon, conservation instructor at the zoo.
Tolly Foster, who designs interactive, special programs for the zoo, said most participants arrive enthusiastic.
"Getting them excited about dolphins is really not something we have to work at, but educating them about dolphins is,'' she said. "The goal is that they will get a concept that they are part of a bigger world.''