The sea lions have wandered into the Sonoran Desert.
Or perhaps it's better to say they've been driven to the Pima County Fairgrounds as part of the Sea Lion Splash show, appearing daily during the Pima County Fair.
Today we introduce you to Marco Peters, 45, a sea lion trainer who works with the show's stars: Zoey and Sparky, a pair of California sea lions; and Minnie and Alicia, a pair of Patagonian sea lions.
How did you get your start as a sea lion trainer?
"I grew up in a circus in Europe and basically got involved with lions and tigers. I pursued that job and was with them until I was 35. We went all over Europe, and then I was hired by the Ringling Bros. (and Barnum & Bailey) to do their lion and tiger acts. But I had friends who had a sea lion show, and I was intrigued. They were, like, mystical animals. I kept thinking, 'How do I train these guys? You can't put a leash on them or use anything else.' . . . And what interested me is they live in and out of the water. When I finished with Ringling, I thought, 'Why not try this instead?' I've been doing it since 1998."
People are also reading…
What's different about training sea lions as opposed to tigers and lions?
"They're complete opposites. I mean there's always an element of danger with any animal you train, but when you're working with a tiger or lion, if you're not attentive it could be your last second. Of course, sea lions can bite, but you won't die from it. What's different is sea lions do things by themselves. You train them with positive reinforcement using voice commands and give them toys if they do something good. I equate training to having a 3-year-old kid. With a 3-year-old kid they're at a stage where they're trying to understand the world and how it works. You give them a bed time and they won't go; they'll throw a tantrum. Sea lions are like that, so you treat them like a 3-year-old. You turn off the lights and then they go to sleep and then you wake them up the next day."
You have a pair of 24-year-old sea lions. Is it hard to teach them new tricks?
"You can teach an old sea lion new tricks. The worst thing you can do is teach them nothing. . . . You need to stimulate them all the time. For them, it's fantastic. They have all this new stuff to learn and show off."
What will people see during the show?
"We try to give educational shows. We don't need to be boring, but we need to make it fresh for the people and for the animals. We'll show a piece of plastic and tell the audience a shark is not a sea lion's worst enemy — it's us and our litter. In nature, the sea lion can mistake it for a jelly fish, and in the show they perform a "death position" to show the audience not to throw their plastic in the water. We try to present in a friendly and fun way. And people come away with education, too."
Sea lion populations have seen severe decreases in some parts of the world. How do you support conservation efforts?
"Sea lions are on the increase on the U.S. West Coast but are decreasing in Argentina and Uruguay. We don't take animals from the wild, only those that need to be rescued because they've been stranded. We nurse them back to health. Sea lions need homes, and we try to give them good ones."
county fair
If you go
The Pima County Fair through April 29 at the Pima County Fairgrounds.
• Where: 11300 S. Houghton Road.
• Admission: $7; $2 ages 6-10; free 5 and under.
• Parking: $5.
• Main gate opens: 10 a.m. weekends and Tuesdays.
• Carnival: 11 a.m. on weekends.
• Web site: pimacountyfair.com.
Today
• Demolition derby starts at 4 p.m.
• No Limit Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament inside Pima Hall and the Cantina.
• High School Rodeo and livestock shows in the barns and ramada.
Performance times
• Sea Lion Splash
Daily shows at 2, 5 and 9:30 p.m. near Old Pueblo Hall at the Pima County Fairgrounds.
