Dolphin Research Center
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| Dolphin Research Center | |
| Date opened | July 10, 1984 |
| Location | Grassy Key, Florida, USA |
| Number of animals | 20 |
| Number of species | 2 |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | Dolphin lagoons, California Sea Lion lagoon |
| Official website | |
The Dolphin Research Center is a dolphinarium on Grassy Key, Florida. The 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) series of saltwater lagoons carved out of the shoreline is home to 19 bottlenose dolphins and one California sea lion. It features experiences where visitors can swim with, hand-signal, or enjoy other interactive programs with the dolphins.
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[edit] Overview
It opened in 1958 as Santini's Porpoise School, a roadside attraction owned by Milton Santini, a Corsican dolphin trainer. One of the dolphins, Mitzi, starred in the Flipper movie. The facility became known as Flipper's Sea School after its sale to an entertainment conglomerate in 1972. Five years later, whale conservationist Jean Paul Fortom-Gouin acquired the center, renaming it the Institute for Delphinid Research and closing it to the public.
When the International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on whaling in 1983, Fortom-Gouin transferred the business to his general manager and head trainer, Jayne and Mandy Rodriguez. The centre reopened as the Dolphin Research Center on July 10th, 1984.
The facility has been featured on television. It was also the filming location for the fictitious "Atlantic Dolphin Research" center in the t.v. series "Key West" that aired during the early 1990s.
Dolphin Research Center received an addition to their family in January 2008. Jax, the bottlenose dolphin, was a victim of a shark attack and was found off of Jacksonville, Florida. Jax was rehabilitated at Gulf World Marine Park before moving to DRC permanently where he lives with the maternal pod and calves that are close to his age.
[edit] Bottlenose Dolphins
- A.J. - a 20 year old male (parents Aphrodite and Joe)
- Aleta - a 25 year old female (parents Misty and Delphi)
- Calusa - a 7 year old female (parents Merina and Rainbow)
- Cayo - a 1 year old female (parents Merina and Noel) - first AI birth at DRC
- Gypsi - a 1 year old female (parents Tursi and Rainbow) - granddaughter of "Flipper"
- Jax - a ~2 year old male (wild parents) - rescued near Jacksonville after shark attack
- Kibby - a ~27 year old male (wild parents)
- Merina - a 24 year old female (parents Bee and Delphi) - has three daughters at DRC
- Molly - a ~38 year old female (wild parents)
- Pandora - an 11 year old female (parents Merina and Kibby)
- Pax - an 11 year old male (parents Tursi and Rainbow) - grandson of "Flipper"
- Rainbow - ~35 year old male (wild parents)
- Ras - a 2 year old female (parents Santini and Kibby) - named after the owners' son
- Sandy - a 29 year old male (parents unknown) - born at SeaWorld Orlando
- Santini - a 22 year old female (parents Theresa and Delphi)
- Talon - an 18 year old male (parents Tursi and Delphi)
- Tanner - a 6 year old male (parents Santini and A.J.) -
- Theresa - a ~60 year old female (wild parents) - once served in the Navy
- Tursi - a 35 year old female (parents Little Bit and Mr. Gipper) - daughter of two "Flipper" stars
[edit] California Sea Lions
- Kilo - a 7 year old male born at SeaWorld Orlando
Karen and Rennae: two female sea lions new to the facility
[edit] External links
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