Day 7 - Heart

Day 7: Heart

What makes your heart happy?

Show us a photo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Day 3 - Celebrate

Day 3 - Celebrate

Have you celebrated meeting, playing with, or swimming with dolphins?

#iHeartDRC #DolphinResearchCenter

Inspiring Dolphin Tale!

On September 23rd, the movie Dolphin Tale will debut in theaters.  The movie was inspired by the story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who at the age of three months was entangled in a crab trap rope.  The entanglement was so severe, that she eventually lost her tail flukes!  Thanks to the dedicated care of Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter survived.  Through the determination of her caregivers and the generosity and ingenuity of experts, Winter was eventually fitted with a prosthetic tail!

The story of Winter and the movie Dolphin Tale shine a light on the amazing things that can be accomplished for dolphins and other marine mammals when we all work together, while also showing the dangers and problems that can be caused by marine debris in the ocean environment.

As you know, two rescued dolphins, Jax and Louie, live at Dolphin Research Center and we are also the licensed manatee rescue team for the Florida Keys.  We know how much hard work goes into the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals.  We applaud the many people who devoted themselves to helping Winter!  Click here to visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium's website and learn more about Winter. Thank you for sharing her story with the world.

Can't wait to see Dolphin Tale!

Are You Ready for some Football?

Both the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl will be played in Miami in 2010. Down here at Dolphin Research Center, the dolphins are always up for a game. Check out our dolphins in action!

Looking for a Great Dolphin Gift?

No, you can’t actually wrap up Kibby or another dolphin to put under your tree. (We tried. Believe it or not, this picture wasn’t Photoshopped. Kibby actually posed with a box on top of him) However, there’s still time to select a wonderful gift from Dolphin Research Center for any dolphin lover on your list.
You might consider giving a DRC membership, such as Adopt-a-Dolphin or Pod Pal. Each membership includes free admission all year to DRC, our bi-monthly Dolphin Society newsletter and other great perks. Your gift will help support the DRC mission, the care of our dolphins and sea lions, and our manatee rescue efforts. Visit the Membership area of our website for more information or to arrange for a gift membership online. (Electronic membership acknowledgements can be sent next business day. Other memberships must be received by December 18th so we can mail them for delivery before Christmas.)
Cyber-shopping is another popular option and we offer a wide variety of great gift ideas through the online Gift Shop. Jewelry, books, apparel, calendars, and other wonderful items will suit any budget or wish. Check out the Gift Shop today!
Happy Holidays to all.

Conservation Resolution!

Sometimes environmental problems seem so huge, it’s natural to wonder if there’s anything we, as individuals, can do to help. Most of us already know the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The good news is that there is plenty more that each of us can do, and we can all begin with little changes. These individual things accumulate, all adding up to big success.

One need look no further than the recent rollercoaster gas prices. It was only a couple of months ago that we saw prices go over $4.00 for a single gallon of gas. Nationwide, consumers responded by driving less, consolidating trips, carpooling, and taking other measures to reduce the among of gas they used in their vehicles. Simple economics says that when demand decreases, prices drop. Now prices at the pump are the lowest they’ve been in a few years – under $2.00 a gallon in many cases.

So, what are some other little things each of us can do to help the environment? Here are a few ideas.

Each time a lightbulb burns out, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). They cost a little more initially but use less power and last a lot longer. Over time you save energy and money.

Reuse plastic or paper bags. Most stores now sell reusable bags to tote home your groceries. These are great! However, if you do get plastic or paper bags at the supermarket, find a way to reuse them. Plastic bags make great liners for indoor trash receptacles. Stack newspapers in paper bags before you set them out for recycling. Use a plastic bag over and over to take your lunch to work. Some stores even take them back and recycle them, too.

Turn off things that aren’t in use. Do you have video game consoles at home like X-Box or Wii? The National Resources Defense Council conducted a study and discovered that these consoles use nearly the same amount of power when left on and unattended as they do when someone is playing them! Shut them down when you’re finished your game and you’ll save energy.

The same goes with computers, chargers, and a host of other appliances and gadgets around the house. These all draw energy when left on, even if nobody is using them. Unplug the chargers from the wall and you’ll save even more.

Don’t forget the old rule our parents taught us, too. Turn off the light when you leave a room.
There are three easy things that anybody can do. Not so overwhelming after all, when you look at them as small steps!

Happy Birthday, Babies!

Ras is a crowd-pleaser with her jumps! Cayo is an independent little charmer

Nobody can resist Gypsi's big grins!

Time flies by or, in the case of dolphin babies, swims by! It’s hard to believe that the youngest members of the Dolphin Research Center pod are turning two years old. We celebrated Ras’s birthday on November 24th. Cayo’s birthday was December 13th. Then, on January 6th, Gypsi turns two.

We now know all three of the proud papas for the little girls, too. Kibby is the father of Ras. Cayo’s dad is Noel at Miami Seaquarium. Rainbow is Gypsi’s dad.

It’s kind of fun to figure out how different dolphins are related. DRC keeps exact track of the family connections. We obviously know maternal relations through their mothers’ right from the get-go, but father parentage spreads new branches on the family trees. Kibby is also Pandora’s father, so that makes her and Ras half-sisters. Rainbow and Tursi previously got together and produced Pax, so Gypsi has an older full-brother in Pax, as well as a half-brother in Talon. She also is half-sister to Calusa since they share a father in Bo-dacious.