Dolphin Society Vol. 26, No. 2 The Newsletter of Dolphin Research Center March/April 2010 BaBy Buzz! With two new additions to our his own in front family, the buzz around DRC is all about of his mother. babies! Aleta, knowing It’s a Boy! In our last newsletter that her calf was we announced the birth of Aleta’s calf. perfectly safe, let Since then we’ve seen the underside him explore a little of the baby and determined that while she rested it is indeed a boy! The little fellow by the causeway recently received his name -- Delta! and chatted with We waited awhile for his dolphinality the guests. Aleta to shine through to make sure the was so relaxed name adequately represents him as an that she stopped doing the “drive by individual. Named for grandfather Delphi and mom Aleta, Delta already shows feedings” (Typically strength and an independent streak This little guy is full of energy. He new mothers take is a super fast swimmer and spends his a fish and keep still only nursing from mom, we have days speeding around his lagoon. Since swimming.) after just a few days and started our baby training sessions. this calf was born a little late he seems instead sat up to do sessions at her During Aleta’s sessions, a second trainer to be more physically and cognitively dock! comes down to interact with the baby. developed than other calves his own We play different games to spark his As of this writing, Aleta’s little age. He showed an independent streak interest such as blowing bubbles into quite early on. Just a few days after boy is just over three months of age. birth we saw him try to swim out on Although he is not eating fish yet and See New Additions, page 4 When the weather turns colder, we humans pull on more Brrring on the BluBBer! clothing made of warm materials. During this year’s harsh January cold spell, staff bundled up in sweatpants and jackets and protected our heads with knit bands and hats. Trainers on the docks traded swimsuits for water-resistant overalls or dive skins to protect them from cold water. Given the huge amounts of snow with which so many people in other parts of the country had to cope, we have a lot of nerve complaining, but for the Florida Keys, January was wayyy colder than we’re used to and nobody was happy. Water temperatures plummeted to the low-to-mid-50s for an extended period of time. Record numbers of manatees, sea turtles, fish and corals died as a result. Every day concerned visitors asked, “How do the dolphins and sea lions cope with cold weather?” Very efficiently, actually. While they can’t pick up a polar fleece jacket or a pair of thermal gloves, dolphins and sea lions employ useful weapons in their physiological arsenals to battle the cold. Unlike his human friends Courtney and Dan, Tanner didn’t need to pull on a parka during January’s cold weather. See Cold Weather, page 9 Twenty-Five Years of Teaching...Learning...Caring...for Marine Mammals and Our Environment Become Part of the lasting imPact of dolPhinlaB the adventure For over 20 years, Dolphin DolphinLab alumni and countless other Research Center’s DolphinLab courses former students have gone on to marine Dolphin Research Center is a not-for- have educated people about dolphins mammal careers in other places! Here profit organization that conducts in- and the marine environment and are just a few of their stories. novative research and education proj- ects. We invite you to join our unique made a positive impact in their lives. Celie Florence, the Secretary of family by becoming a member of the We would love to share this unique DRC’s Board of Directors, first attended Dolphin Society. As a member, your educational experience with even more DolphinLab several years ago. From tax-deductible donation will help us of you. As a special thank you, we are that time, she became involved in DRC provide the best environment and now offering a 20% discount off 2010 care humanly possible for the dol- as a member. She joined the Board in Adult DolphinLab tuition to members phins and sea lions who call DRC 2006 and is active in strategic planning home. Your membership will also sup- who give at the $240.00 annual level or for our organization’s future. port our manatee rescue program and greater! After Jennifer Powell took the provide the educational programs that We know how much you love the encourage our guests to become am- Adult Basic DolphinLab in 1989, she bassadors for all marine animals and DRC dolphins. This year, you can get became a DRC member and regular the environment we share. Annual to know your gray-faced friends on a visitor. Jennifer created a plan for memberships are available in several deeper, more personal level through herself with a goal of eventually working levels: DolphinLab! for DRC. With that plan in mind, she Individual ($40 for adults, $25 for full- time students with proof of enrollment) We aren’t merely spouting moved to the Florida Keys in May 2005 – receive a subscription to the Dolphin marketing rhetoric when we say that and began volunteering that August. In Society newsletter, our e-newsletter, a attending DolphinLab has changed January 2006, she joined the staff in the 10% discount on most gift shop items, people’s lives. We see it every day Education Department. free admission for one to DRC for one in the number of staff members, year, and one free guest pass. DRC’s Director of Research Dr. volunteers, and members whose first Trio ($70) – receive all the benefits of Kelly Jaakkola attended DolphinLab an individual membership plus free introduction to DRC came through our in 1988. After earning her PhD and admission to DRC for up three people week-long classes. Currently, more beginning for one year. than 10% of our staff members are Gray Cross ($90) – receive all the bene- See DolphinLab, page 11 fits of the Trio membership plus a sub- scription to our quarterly Gray Cross newsletter and free admission to DRC for up to four people for one year. Sponsor ($150) – receive all the ben- efits of the Gray Cross membership plus the opportunity to sponsor a nar- rated session at DRC and admission for up to five people for one year. Research Team ($500) – receive all the benefits of the Sponsor membership plus receive a personal tour of the Re- search Tower (by appointment) and admission for up to six people for one year. Memberships can be purchased via our website at www.dolphins.org, by phone (305) 289-1121 X229, or by mailing your check or credit card num- ber to DRC, 58901 Overseas High- way, Grassy Key, FL 33050. Please note that memberships are not trans- ferable and the member must present photo identification for admission. Over the years, many DolphinLab students have established careers at DRC and other facilities. Currently, we have several alumni on staff in various departments. (Pictured back row l-r: Kirsten Donald, Director of Education; Samantha Eberlein, ACT; Mishell Wenger, Environmental Services; Bette Zirkelbach, Facilities Director. Front row l-r: Margaret Tucker Thomas, ACT, Jennifer Powell, Education, Sarah Brignac, ACT, Loriel Caprio, Assistant Director of Animal Training; Kelly Jaakkola, Research Director.) 2 Dolphin Society Newsletter What students say aBout dolPhinlaB! Adopt-A-Dolphin You can sponsor your favorite dolphin or Adult DolphinLabs sea lion at DRC through our Adopt-A- Dolphin or Sea Lion program. Experi- DolphinLab completely exceeded my very high hopes and expectations. I ence the warm feeling that comes with couldn’t ask for any better experience. knowing that you are helping to pro- vide for the care and feeding of your friend. Your tax-deductible donation for It is so awesome to be with a group of people that understand my passion. a membership will help us to fulfill our promise to provide the finest home hu- manly possible for our marine mammal This experience was extremely valuable to me as far as considering careers, family. Memberships are available is having an unforgettable and fun time and learning a lot. several levels: E-Dolfriend ($15) – receive an electronic DolphinLab gave a realistic picture of the dedication and commitment membership that includes a subscrip- tion to our monthly e-newsletter and an necessary to succeed as a dolphin trainer. e-mailed full-color certificate with your favorite dolphin or sea lion’s picture and a biography about your friend you The most memorable part of DolphinLab was how the dolphins made me can print out at home. feel, and the program gave me confidence that I could accomplish my dream Dolfriend ($50) – receive a subscription of working with marine mammals. to the Dolphin Society newsletter, our e-newsletter, a 10% discount on most gift shop items, a color certificate with Teen and Camp Programs your dolphin or sea lion’s picture, a bi- ography about your friend, free admis- I never want to forget anything that happened this week. Overall, it was sion for two to DRC for one year, and awesome! one free guest pass. Pod Pal ($100) – receive all the benefits of a Dolfriend membership plus a sub- I’ve been to DolphinLab four times prior to this, and I still learned a lot. I scription to our Gray Cross newsletter really liked the group and staff and, of course, the dolphins. and free admission to DRC for up to four people for one year.