Grassy Key, FL… When a major storm like Hurricane Ivan threatens, not only the humans in the Florida Keys are launched into new routines. Daily life was also altered for the sixteen Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and two California sea lions who are accustomed to seeing hundreds of daily visitors at their home at Dolphin Research Center (DRC) on Grassy Key. For these lively marine mammals, who not only respond to, but also actively solicit attention and interaction from the human guests, the last several days have been somewhat boring since the facility closed due to mandatory evacuation orders. DRC will re-open on Thursday, September 16th at 9 a.m.
For Keys visitors and residents who want to visit and enjoy a fun-filled, close-up introduction to the dolphins, there are openings during the next week in all of DRC’s public programs including the Dolphin Encounter swim and DolphinSplash wade-in program. For availability and advance reservations, call 305-289-0002 beginning Thursday at 9 a.m.
The center’s other dockside interactive programs Play with a Dolphin, Paint with a Dolphin, Meet the Dolphin, and Behind the Scenes with Sea Lions can all be arranged after arriving at the center. Exciting and informative narrated presentations take place every half an hour from 9 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week.
During the evacuation, a small crew of staff stayed behind to care for the dolphins and sea lions. Like most humans, dolphins enjoy physical exercise and activities that challenge them mentally. After a few days, center staff observed changes in their behavior and interest levels. “People think the dolphins are here to entertain them,” joked Mandy Rodriguez, DRC’s Executive Vice-President who coordinates and leads the stay-behind crew. “Really, the visitors are here to entertain the dolphins.”
DRC 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 was founded in 1984 and is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For more information, call 305-289-1121.
