Summer

Meet the newest member of the Dolphin Research Center family, Summer.

Dolphin Research Center is excited to announce that we will soon be joined by a new family member!  In July, a baby female Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) was found weak and malnourished on the shore of Reddington Beach, FL.  She was rescued and rehabilitated back to health at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (You may know of them from their care of Winter and Hope, whose stories were told in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2)   Because of her young age, without a family group, the little girl was deemed non-releasable by the federal government and we were chosen as her new, forever home.  We have named her Summer because of when she stranded and in connection to Winter.  She will arrive early in 2015 and we are working closely with her caregivers in Clearwater to prepare her for a smooth transition.  DRC has a long tradition of providing homes for marine mammals in need and are happy to take on the challenges and costs associated in transporting Summer and providing her, and all of our family, with the finest care.  If you would like to help us with this endeavor, please click here to donate.  Please type Summer in the comments.  We’ll keep you posted on her progress and let you know when she arrives.  Thank you, always, for your support!

Summer was named because of the time of year that she stranded, Summer, and in connection to Winter.

Happy Holidays

Wishing you the happiest of days with your loved ones this holiday season.

Holiday Memberships

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the marine mammal love in your life? Why not sign them up for a DRC membership?

Your membership includes the adoption of one of our dolphin or sea lions, access to our Members' Only section and Members' Only events, a bi-monthly Dolphin Society Newsletter, monthly E-newsletters, and much more! You'll also be first to learn about news going on at the facility.

If there's a dolphin or sea lion you bonded with on your visit or you want to get to know our family, head over to the Our Animal Family portion of the DRC website.

As a nonprofit, Dolphin Research Center relies on our guests, members and donors to give our animal family members the best care possible. Thank you for keeping up with the family.

Happy Birthday, Reese

Today, we're celebrating Reese's second birthday! A typical two year old boy, Reese loves to people watch, play with toys, and do a variety of behaviors he's learned from copying his mom, Santini. Right now, his favorite one his "shark" where he imitates the way in which a shark swims - side to side.

Want to buy Reese a bucket of fish for his birthday? Head on over to our website. You can also adopt him. Your 100% tax-deductable donation will help us to buy them fish and vitamins, provide them with medical care, and maintain their beautiful natural seawater lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico.

Happy Birthday, Reese. We love you!

Manatee Rescue Team of the Florida Keys

Did you know that Dolphin Research Center is the Manatee Rescue Team for the Florida Keys?

If you see an injured, dead, harassed or orphaned manatee please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922.

Happy Birthday, Santini!

Join us in celebrating the beautiful Santini's 28th Birthday! Santini is half sister to Merina, Aleta and Talon, and the mother of Tanner and Reese. She loves the spotlight and commands attention when she soars on her dives and flips. A founder of our Dolphin Encounter swim program, “Tina” is exceptionally gentle and adaptive towards guests with special needs. An avid sports fisherman, Santini catches live fish in her lagoon then gives them to trainers in trade for herring!  Santini enjoys participating in programs and showing off her beautiful athletic behaviors.

DRC's resident "Teacher's Pet", Santini would love you to help continue our dedication to promoting peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals and humans and the environment through research and education by signing up for a DRC membership. As a nonprofit organization that relies on our members, donors, interactive programs,and guests to provide the best care for the dolphins and sea lions, our memberships give you an inside look into the families world via our bi-monthly newsletters and monthly electronic updates. 

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Santini's birthday!

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for today?

Happy Birthday, Tursi!

The first successful calf born on the Dolphin Research Center grounds was this beautiful lady. Today, Tursi is celebrating her 41st birthday! Join us in celebrating her day.

Tursi is the daughter of two “Flipper” dolphins who starred in the original movies. Her name is derived from her species, Tursiops truncatus. Tursi is DRC’s “Super Mom” and is a protective mom to Talon, Pax, Gypsi and Gambit. In addition to raising kids, she helps raise new trainers, teaching them who is really in charge! Tursi is a spectacular athlete, and her claim to fame is her “screaming dive” – a high leap with a celebratory “Yah” at the peak! Proving that the Flipper genetics are strong, all of Tursi's children are equally as athletic. 

As it is part of our philosophy to provide a forever home to marine mammals who are born here or came to the facilities for various reasons, this is the only home Tursi has ever known. We think of ourselves as one big family here at DRC, with Tursi being the nurturing mom we love dearly.

If you'd like to buy this Flipper daughter a bucket of fish or adopt her today, you'll be helping DRC continue its mission of promoting peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals and humans and the environment through research and education. 

Object Permanence

Find out what we learned about the dolphins ability to understand object permanence in Dolphin Research Center's published research study. "What do Dolphins Understand about Hidden Objects" was published by the prestigious scientific journal "Animal Cognition". 

Happy Birthday, Delta and Pandora!

We're celebrating twice the joy here at Dolphin Research Center. Why? Because November 22nd is both Delta's and Pandora's birthday! Happy Birthday, you fabulous dolphins.

Delta is the first baby born to Aleta and is half brother Pandora, Gambit, and one year old Diva. A boisterous typical boy, Delta loves swimming fast, jumping and playing with balls (especially tossing them over fences!) As a youngster, Delta has difficulty sometimes sitting through “kindergarten class." He enjoys swimming around the lagoon and seeing what everyone else is doing. He sometimes takes another young dolphin with him as he plays hooky! Step down onto one of the floating docks, and you're sure to grab Delta's attention. He is one of the bravest of the young kid clan and isn't afraid to be the first to play with a new object or game. 

If you'd like to adopt Delta on his Birthday, click here.

Pandora is the oldest of her siblings, Calusa, Cayo & Flagler (Merina’s kids) and Delta and Gambit (Kibby’s kids). She excels at studying human behavior and is an avid people watcher. This results in a young lady who has high standards when it comes to her relationships with humans – she expects YOU to entertain HER! Always smiling and calling out for attention, Pandora is a party waiting to happen. Do you hear a dolphin screaming at unsuspecting guests? That's usually Pandora. If you're not 100% sure who she is, look for the bright pink belly with freckles. Dolphins are born with pink stomachs and as they get older they fade to light gray. Pandora's stayed bright pink, which is a great way to figure out who she is in whatever social group she decides to be in that day.

Want to buy Pandora a bucket of Birthday fish? Click here.

Founded in 1984, Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals and humans and the environment through research and education.  Located on the Overseas Highway at mile marker 59, Grassy Key, the center is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Happy Birthday, Merina!

She may be a mother of five (Pandora, Calusa, Cayo, Flagler and Windley) but she's surely one of the coolest moms we know! Merina was born at DRC in 1984 and is half-sister to Aleta, Santini and Talon. She is our most successful mother and her legacy continues with Pandora, Calusa, Cayo, Flagler and Windley. In addition to being an amazing Mom, her resume includes modeling and acting – she loves being in front of the camera! Merina enjoys a challenge and excels at creative training, such as combination behaviors. She is especially proud of her birth impression, where she dives through the air, wiggles her flippers, and does a seagull impression all at the same time.

If you'd like to buy Merina a Birthday bucket of fish or adopt her, you can do so on our website. As a nonprofit organization, DRC relies on its members for support and to give the dolphins and sea lions the best care. They receive restaurant quality fish, excellent healthcare, and are loved dearly by their human family members.

Echolocation Demonstration

Curious about how echolocation works in dolphins? Check out this animated demonstration!

Keep Up With the Family

There are several ways to keep up with the Dolphin Research Center family, besides visiting our blog.

You can check us out on Facebook. Through education, research and rescue, Dolphin Research Center promotes peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals, humans and the environment we share with the well being of DRC's animals taking precedence. Every day, we post items that tie back into our mission.

If you're into 140 character statuses, don't forget to check out our Twitter page.

Have you adopted a dolphin or sea lion? Who? If you're already a member, feel free to access the Members' Only section of the DRC website. This entitles you to access to our past Dolphin Society and Gray Cross newsletters, monthly Pod Updates, finding out What's New with the family, and so much more!

Don't forget to browse our site for information about our Research, Educational programs and Fun Facts, College, Hot Topics, or to Plan Your Day with us.

Students visits Louie and the DRC family.

Happy Birthday, Flagler!

November 15th is a happy day here at Dolphin Research Center because it's Flagler's Birthday!

Flagler is the first (and only) male to join Merina’s lineage of girls, Pandora, Calusa, Cayo and Windley. He is the second successful baby born at DRC with the help of artificial insemination (A.I.) technology. Flagler is proving to be a little “brainiac” and began imitating his mother at around six months of age giving him a wide repertoire of fun behaviors! Although he is big for his age, his father is Theater of the Sea's big guy Stormy, Flagler is easygoing and loves playing with the other youngsters in his free time.

Flagler loves to meet new people and is especially fond of saying to members. If you'd like to adopt Flagler today please click here. You can also buy the big four year old boy a bucket of fish.  

As a nonprofit organization, DRC relies on wonderful supporters like yourself to put the fish right back in the dolphins' and sea lions' buckets. It's because of you that we are able to continue our mission of teaching, learning, and caring for the environment.

Happy Birthday, Windley

Since the day she was born on November 12, 2013, Windley has had an adventurous and friendly spirit.  She is often seen playing either with her best friend and cousin, Diva, or on her own using toys in her lagoon.  As the youngest daughter of Merina, it’s no surprise that Windley is drop dead gorgeous.  Just like her big sisters, Pandora, Calusa, and Cayo, and her older brother Flagler, Windley enjoys fun games and loving from her trainers.  She’s a big fan of back rubs, kisses, tongue tickles, and high fives.

As a one year old dolphin, Windley is now up for adoption on our website. To celebrate her big day, why not give her a bucket of fish or adopt her and receive a DRC membership? It's a great way to  support DRC's mission of research and educating the public about marine mammals and the environment! As a nonprofit organization, DRC is funded entirely by members, donors, and guests. Every dollar goes right back in Windley's, and the rest of the dolphins and sea lions, bucket.

Happy Veterans Day

Today, we celebrate Veterans Day. Thank you to all the men and women who serve or have served in our military.

Throughout the year, Dolphin Research Center works with Wounded Warrior Project on many programs, including Soldier Ride and Project Odyssey. We also welcome active duty personnel and their families to visit year round as part of our Military DolFriend program. DRC staff and volunteers are always deeply touched by the impact the dolphins make on the service members and their families. It is an honor and a privilege to give back to our military and veterans. To learn more about our work with the military, please visit the Special Needs portion of the DRC website.

Ocean Celebration Day

Students participate in a mock dolphin stranding to learn about the importance of conserving our oceans and protecting our marine mammal friends.

On Wednesday, November 5^th, Dolphin Research Center welcomed 394 participants from Plantation Key, Ocean Studies, Horace O’Bryant and Switlik Elementary for a day of learning about marine mammals, ocean life, the Florida Keys and other environmental subjects in Ocean Celebration Day. From 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., students visited different stations for presentations and activities by Aquarium Encounters, Sea Camp, Bahia Honda, Crane Point, National Weather Service, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Turtle Hospital, Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, Marathon Wild Bird Center, Reef Relief, Pigeon Key, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. as well as DRC staff and volunteers.

Happy Birthday, Gambit!

Today is a fintastic day here at Dolphin Research Center. We are celebrating a Flipper grandson's Birthday! Happy Birthday to Gambit who turns four today.

Gambit is the newest Flipper grandchild to join the family. Son to Tursi and Kibby, his siblings are Talon, Pax, Pandora, Gypsi and Delta. From an early age Gambit has had a mind of his own, breaking away from protective Mom Tursi and doing his own thing. In personality he is laid back like his dad Kibby. Gambit enjoys “kindergarten” but can be a spacey student at times, in his own world!

Recently Gambit has spent a lot of time with his older sister, Gypsi. The two of them are a great pairing for Dolphin Encounters and other fun interactive programs. Gambit especially loves going in for kisses and dorsal pulls.

Want to help Gambit have a day to remember? You can buy him a bucket of fish or adopt the cute little guy for a year long DRC membership that gives you access to our bi-monthly newsletter and monthly e-news.

DRC Salutes Veterans and Military with Free Admission

Admission to Dolphin Research Center gives you access to a variety of narrated boardwalk and theater presentations throughout the day. These educational experiences take place about every half an hour.

To salute the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, Dolphin Research Center is offering free admission to veterans, current military service personnel and their immediate families on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11^th.  Personnel only need to show their military identification cards or other proof of military service when they arrive at the facility.  Dolphin Research Center offers fun-filled, educational narrated behavior demonstrations throughout the day and a variety of exciting interactive programs that bring guests up close to their family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions.  

            Dolphin Research Center maintains a strong commitment to the armed forces.  Every day the center offers a military discount of $2.50 off the regular adult admission.  This discount is available to all military personnel and veterans.  Several staff members also served in the armed forces, including Co-Founder/Chief Operating Officer Mandy Rodriguez who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.  On the facility's grounds, there is a special garden area dedicated to veterans of all wars.  This garden was originally installed by a group of veterans who participated in a dolphin assisted therapy program.  DRC also works closely with the Wounded Warrior Project throughout the year and was honored to receive a Carry Forward Award from the organization.