A US staffing firm is teaching its consultants to communicate with dolphins at Marine World in Florida in order to recruit trainers that the marine mammals are more fully engaged with.

Dolphins at the centre had appeared listless and depressed, according to visitors, so consultants at Florida- based Aqua Recruitment were enlisted to help try and get to the root of the problem. Following an intense four-day programme, in which consultants were taught to understand the complexities of the dolphin language, it was found that the dolphins lacked a connection with their trainer.

Candidates are now screened using psychometric testing, along with data provided by the dolphins once the group has reached a consensus over which trainer they would most like to work with. Trainers are judged on empathy, assertiveness, agility with hoops and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

John West, chief executive at Aqua Recruitment, says: “It is a really great programme. The change in the dolphins has been startling and they are really engaged.”