Dr. Martin Haulena (Part II): A lifelong love of animals

Dr. Martin Haulena has always been fascinated with animal life. He remembers being a young boy and coming across a dead snake while walking with his grandma one day - together, they paid tribute to its life and laid flowers on the animal. The passion for marine mammals, specifically, came a bit later after he touched a dolphin for the first time on a family trip to Florida. Today, the head veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise initiative, is one of the world’s leading specialists on marine mammal care and his work includes rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals as well as caring for those at the Aquarium, all while helping researchers along the way. The passion never wavers, but the one thing that has changed over the years? How his work increasingly fits into a bigger, growing conversation about how our actions impact all the species around us.

Dive deeper: Learn more about the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and how you can help.

Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Mammal Rescue Centre

Dr. Martin Haulena has always been fascinated with animal life. He remembers being a young boy and coming across a dead snake while walking with his grandma one day – together, they paid tribute to its life and laid flowers on the animal. The passion for marine mammals, specifically, came a bit later after he touched a dolphin for the first time on a family trip to Florida. Today, the head veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise initiative, is one of the world’s leading specialists on marine mammal care and his work includes rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals as well as caring for those at the Aquarium, all while helping researchers along the way. The passion never wavers, but the one thing that has changed over the years? How his work increasingly fits into a bigger, growing conversation about how our actions impact all the species around us.

Dive deeper: Learn more about the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and how you can help.

Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Mammal Rescue Centre

Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Mammal Rescue Centre