DOLPHIN QUEST PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Dolphin Quest’s accreditations and certifications underscore our dedication to superior standards in animal care, education, and conservation, surpassing all state and federal care mandates across its three locations. These validations showcase Dolphin Quest’s unwavering commitment to ethical marine life engagement thereby reflecting our dedication to responsible operations and marine mammal conservation.
The American Humane organization is dedicated to ensuring the welfare, safety, and well-being of animals through various programs and initiatives. They advocate for humane treatment, rescue, and protection of animals, striving to create a more compassionate world for all living creatures.
Humane Conservation™ is a certification program of American Humane devoted solely to verifying that animals living in zoos, aquariums and wild life parks are afforded the highest standards of welfare and humane treatment based upon the Humane Conservation Standards. This rigorous certification program allows visitors to recognize the best zoos and aquariums around the world based upon standards created by an independent collection of world-renowned experts in the fields of animal science and ethics.
To earn certification, zoos and aquariums must pass a thorough audit of their facilities and practices. The audit verifies every dimension of animal welfare, including excellent animal health and housing; positive social interactions within groups of animals, as well as between animals and handlers; and safe and stimulating living environments.
All three Dolphin Quest locations in Bermuda, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii have been Humane Certified™ since 2016.
The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) is an international association representing leading marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife presentations.
To become accredited by AMMPA, facilities must meet or exceed the Alliance Accreditation Standards and Guidelines which encompass topics ranging from animal health and wellness, applied animal behavior, training and enrichment, and water and environmental quality, to population sustainability, transportation, scientific research, conservation, and public education.
Alliance-accredited facilities demonstrate that they meet these requirements in comprehensive, on-site inspections by a team of independent experienced professionals.
Dolphin Quest has been an active member of AMMPA for decades. Dolphin Quest Bermuda was the first ever location to become accredited by AMMPA when this program first began in 1999. Since then, all three Dolphin Quest locations in Bermuda, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii have been certified and recertified.
The International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA) is dedicated to advancing the humane care and handling of marine animals by fostering communication between professionals that serve marine animal science through training, public display, research, husbandry, conservation, and education.
IMATA’s Accreditation for Animal Trainer Development Programs was developed to recognize those facilities that have exceptional systems for training animal care givers in the science and art of animal training, while utilizing positive reinforcement.
Inspectors review the trainer development program of an organization to insure appropriate educational opportunities are being provided, quantification of skills and advancement are employed, and that management experience of senior staff is appropriate for an environment in which trainers improve their craft as effective animal trainers.
Dolphin Quest has been an active member of IMATA since the organization was founded in 1973. All three Dolphin Quest locations in Bermuda, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii have had their Animal Trainer Development Programs certified since 2014.