Day in the life of Ushaka animal behaviourist
I wanted nothing more than to become a volunteer and join the Sea World team
NOT many will admit to working in their ‘dream job’, but for Merebank’s Raecine Bates, an animal behavourist at Ushaka, she is definitely living her dream.
From as young as she can remember, she always loved contact with animals.
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She meticulously studied their movement as they flew, crawled and slithered in her garden, her personal jungle. “I have never known what it is like not to love and be awed by nature. One day I was told that uShaka Sea World was looking for volunteers to help out and I knew I wanted nothing more than to become a volunteer and join the Sea World team. That was in 2005 and I have never left.
As a volunteer, before she was given the chance to interact with the dolphins and other sea creatures, she fell more in love with animals. “I knew as soon as I was able to, I would apply for a permanent position in a conservation organisation whose vision it is to inspire people to care about the planet and all who inhabit the earth.”
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The moment she touched a dolphin and interacted with one, she was home. “What I enjoy most about my job besides the obvious – playing with the dolphins – is being able on a daily basis to touch and inspire visitors. It is very emotional and powerful when you see visitors committing to making good environmental choices after being inspired by the marine animals. That is a wonderful feeling and a great joy,” she added.
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