National Flip Flop Day!

Friday, June 15th has been designated as National Flip Flop Day! We're happy that this comfortable footwear gets celebrated with its own day, but honestly, it's always flip flop day at Dolphin Research Center. Even the dolphins agree!

DRC on TV!

We just received word that on Sunday, June 3rd, a program called Animal Superpowers: Extreme Hunters will air on the National Geographic Wild channel. The website says 9 p.m. eastern, but please check your local listings. Dolphin Research Center's dolphins and Director of Education Kirsten Donald demonstrated dolphin acoustic abilities and echolocation for the program. The show spotlights some of the interesting abilities different animals have that help them forage and find prey. DRC's help provided a greater understanding of other cetaceans like sperm whales in the Azores. The segment was filmed at DRC last September. We're excited to see the finished program and hope that you get to tune in too!

Kirsten shows Talon eyecups as they prepare to demonstrate how he uses his echolocation to find objects, in this case toy rings, without using his eyesight.

Baby Bump!

The DRC family is excited to announce that Santini is expecting! Her new bundle of flippered joy is due to arrive in late November-early December.

Santini's doing great and the pregnancy is smoothly progressing. She's receiving terrific pre-natal care, of course, and we'll monitor her throughout the coming months. We know you'll join us in keeping our flippers crossed that everything continues to go well.

We look forward to welcoming Tina's new son or daughter (and Tanner's little sister or brother) in the fall!

DRC Helps Rescue Injured Manatee

A manatee injured by a boat in the Florida Keys is now receiving treatment for her injuries thanks to Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). On Friday, March 16th, the female manatee was rescued near Jasmine Street in Key Largo.

Manatee assessors from DRC had gone out to observe the animal for a few days prior to her rescue. On Thursday, March 15th, Medical Director Pat Clough and veterinarian Dr. Mike Renner went by boat to get a good look at her injuries and her movement. With the cuts on her back from a propeller and buoyancy issues that made her “ride high” in the water and compromised her mobility, they reported to the FWC that she should be rescued.

The following morning, DRC's rescue team deployed, traveling to mile marker 90 to meet with manatee biologists from the FWC and launch the rescue mission. They found the manatee in the same area where she had previously been spotted and cautiously approached.

With the FWC's John Cassady at the helm, the rescue boat slowly approached Jasmine. In this picture, you can see the cuts on her side as she dives below the water's surface.


Not knowing the full extent of the internal injuries she might have suffered, the crew hoped to achieve the rescue without multiple net sets and stress on the animal. With excellent timing, they encircled her with the net and were able to safely bring her aboard the rescue boat.

Dubbed Jasmine by the rescue crew after the street near where she was rescued, she was examined on the boat and then carefully lifted into the FWC's truck.

DRC and FWC personnel examine Jasmine and remove the net.

DRC Medical Director Pat Clough (kneeling) and Senior Medical Technician Tanya Manchester keep an eye on Jasmine, spraying her down with water, prior to her transport to Miami Seaquarium.

From the scene, she was then transported to Miami Seaquarium for treatment and rehabilitation. Antibiotics have been administered to ward off infection and staff report that she is eating well and socializing with other manatees in her pool. Her condition will be carefully assessed as she continues to heal. When she is deemed completely recovered from her injuries, she will be transported back to the Florida Keys and released.

According to marine mammal medical personnel and manatee biologists, the animal may have suffered an internal injury to its lung which permitted air to leak into the body cavity. This trapped air increases the buoyancy of the manatee which can make it more difficult for the animal to stay submerged beneath the water’s surface and dive to the sea grass beds to feed. X-rays will determine whether any of the manatee’s ribs were broken by the boat strike.

“Jasmine is fortunate that area residents saw her injuries and alerted authorities so that she could be rescued and helped,” said DRC’s Chief Operating Officer Armando “Mandy” Rodriguez. “She serves as a strong reminder for all boaters to pay attention to posted slow speed zones and be aware of manatees in our local waters.” Licensed by the federal government, Dolphin Research Center’s manatee rescue team responds to calls about injured, entangled, ill or orphaned manatees from Key Largo to Key West.

The veterinarian and staff of Miami Seaquarium will provide Jasmine with excellent care while she is in residence. We'll keep in touch to get updates about her condition. We're all thrilled that we were able to help this injured animal and are very optimistic that she will make a full recovery.

As you know, DRC is a nonprofit organization. All of our mission-based activities, including our manatee rescue efforts, are funded by admission and program fees as well as by private donors and members. Many thanks to all of you for your support. With your help, Jasmine has been given a terrific chance. We'll keep you posted on her progress!

Thank you to all who came to the Members' Only event. We all loved spending time with you. Thank you for your continued support!

Members' Event This Sunday!

Don't forget that our next Members’ Only Event is just around the corner, this Sunday, February, 26^th!  DRC will close our doors in the early afternoon to everyone but our members and their guests.  Activities for the afternoon are designed specifically for our greatest supporters as our way of saying thank you for making it possible for us to continue our mission.  This year’s event will be alcohol free with an expanded afternoon schedule to accommodate our ever-growing attendance. 

The event runs from 2:30 to 6:30 and will include:

·         Appetizers, snacks, and soft drinks throughout the day.

·         Trips out on the boardwalks to visit your favorite dolphins and have some up close and personal time for questions and answers with research, training, and education staff.
·         Special narrated sessions designed specifically for our members and guests.
·         Viewing of some new and unique DRC videos.
·         Our annual Sunset Celebration at 6:00 with the dolphins showing off their best moves to music with the Keys’ sunset in the background.

 This is usually a great time for all our members, their guests and especially for the dolphins.  The cost for each guest, more than the number you can normally bring in on your membership level, is $5.00. 

In order to make sure we have enough refreshments, we’d very much like to get an estimate of the number of people attending this year in advance.  If you think you’ll be able to attend and have not yet RSVP'd, or if you have any questions, please call us at 305-289-1121 x229 or email at drc-mbr@dolphins.org by Friday, February 24th!

Dad Rainbow, Mom Merina, all her siblings and the rest of the DRC family wish Calusa a very happy 11th birthday! Love you, Goose!