Environmental Services Department at Play

Our ES staff spend time with Molly and Calusa.

One of the greatest aspects about working at Dolphin Research Center is that staff members are encouraged to spend time entertaining our animal family. Guests will often see people in DRC shirts with a goofy grin on their face as they wave hello to the dolphins on the causeway, shout good mornings to the sea lions, or hop up and down with the birds.

Some of the hardest workers at DRC, our Environmental Services (ES) Department, spend a lot of time working for the dolphins. They construct and update the animal habitats, are key players in medical assists, and do an enormous amount of physical labor around the facility. They work hard and always have a smile on their face.

Recently, these awesome set of guys got to spend time having fun with dolphins! As they went out on the docks, their faces stretched with smiles as they played, kissed, high fived, and bonded with the dolphin family.

As many watched their session, with Molly and Calusa, their joy exuded into the air. They each took turns asking for behaviors and getting some well deserved photo ops. Every staff member and volunteer on the causeway agreed these guys deserved dolphin play time more than anyone else.

It wasn’t just a treat for ES, but for Molly and Calusa too. Anyone who knows these two ladies knows that they love male attention, especially Miss Molly. As the guys rubbed Molly’s back and flippers, she looked like she was in dolphin heaven.

When you come to a facility like DRC, you see the trainers, education staff, and guest service members, but there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that keeps the place running. Every single member of the DRC team, our family, is integral to us being able to care for the animals and provide an educational experience for the public. It’s only fair that the guys, who work hard, get to play hard too!