Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key, Florida
by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
Mankind been fascinated by dolphins since learning of their existence. Initially, humans were focused on hunting dolphins. By the 1950’s, intrigued by their seeming intelligence, we began capturing dolphins for research, entertainment, and profit. Among the institutions involved involved in this practice was Santini’s Porpoise School on Grassy Key in the Florida Keys. Milton Santini, a local fisherman, began capturing and training Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Santini was best known for Mitzi, the dolphin that starred in the original pilot movie Flipper, which was actually based on Santini’s close relationship with Mitzi. When Mitzi passed away in 1972 Santini sold the school, which eventually evolved into the present-day Dolphin Research Center.
Dolphin does a high jump during one of the shows held throughout the day
The DRC is dedicated to dolphin research and education and manages a dolphin breeding program. Currently, 19 dolphins live in the center’s ninety thousand square feet of pristine seawater lagoons, with low fences separating them from the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Raised platforms and benches surround the various pools, allowing guests an excellent view of the marine mammals during and between regularly scheduled narrated shows, which begin at 9:30 a.m. and run concurrently throughout the day until 4 p.m. Presentations such as “Dolphin Fun Facts,” “All About Babies,” and “The Secret Lives Of Dolphins” are included in the general admission. Interactive sessions, available for an additional fee, include activities such as “Paint With A Dolphin,” “Play With A Dolphin,” “Trainer For A Day,” and the popular “Deep Water Dolphin Encounter,” where guests are pulled around the pool as they hang onto the dolphin’s dorsal fin.
Dolphin retrieves plastic trash bottle from bottom of lagoon and deposits it in a recycling bin
Guests can also witness a fascinating array of training exercises conducted with the dolphins. One dolphin is being trained to “recycle - she searches the pen for trash, retrieves a plastic water bottle, and deposits it into a bin on the edge of the floating dock. Other research is attempting to measure whether dolphins have specific math abilities. Dolphins are even being trained by the Navy to locate underwater mines and patrol for terrorists who might attempt to attack a ship from beneath the water.
The Dolphin Research Center is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission $19.50 for adults, $16.50 for seniors 55 or older, and $13.50 for children aged 4-12 (children under 4 free), but an additional discount coupon is available on the DRC website. Interactive programs are priced from $25 (”Meet The Dolphin”) to $650 (”Trainer For A Day”). DRC is located on Grassy Key, just north of Marathon in the Florida Keys.
Photos cortesy of Barbara Weibel