In some trials, both dolphins were given the command at the same time in other trials, one dolphin would receive the command up to 20 seconds before the other. In a trial, pairs of dolphins were instructed to swim across their lagoons and press an underwater button, with each dolphin assigned a button. In a 2018 publication 'Bottlenose dolphins can understand their partner's role in a cooperative task' DRC staff tested the ability of bottlenose dolphins to coordinate their behavior to receive a reward. The blindfolded dolphin was able to replicate the behaviors of fellow dolphins by presumably recognizing the sound when copying behaviors of a human in the water, it switched to using echolocation to ascertain the behavior being modeled. In a 2010 study 'Blindfolded Imitation in a Bottlenose Dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus)' and a follow-up 2013 study 'Switching strategies: a dolphin’s use of passive and active acoustics to imitate motor actions', researchers tested the ability of a blindfolded dolphin to imitate the behavior of another dolphin or human. ResearchĭRC staff members conduct and publish research on its captive dolphins. Other guest experiences can include painting with a dolphin or providing enrichment. DRC also has an 'Ultimate Trainer for the Day' program where guests can shadow trainers and a 'Researcher Experience' where they can shadow the DRC research team. In addition to the general admission price, guests can pay more to interact with dolphins in the water. Visitors to the DRC can pay to experience a variety of programs. It is also home to four sea lions and several exotic birds.

Two of the bottlenose dolphins and the Atlantic spotted dolphin were rescued from the wild. Twenty-two of the dolphins were born in captivity, while one ('Rainbow') was captured from the wild. Twenty-five of the dolphins are bottlenose dolphins, while the other dolphin is an Atlantic spotted dolphin. AnimalsĪs of 2018, DRC listed 26 dolphins as currently residing at its facilities. Mandy had earlier been a dolphin trainer at Miami Seaquarium and decided to interact with dolphins in a manner less 'circus-y'. The Dolphin Research Center was founded in 1984 by Armando ('Mandy') and Jayne Rodriguez. Fortom-Gouin closed the property to the public, running it as the Institute for Delphinid Research until 1983. At this point, it was purchased by Jean Paul Fortom-Gouin. The property was sold and renamed as Flipper's Sea School in 1972 and operated under this name until 1977. One of Santini's dolphins, Mitzi, starred in the film Flipper. Santini blasted lagoons into the seashore with dynamite to create deeper pens for the dolphins. Fisherman Milton Santini opened Santini's Porpoise School in 1958, which he operated until 1972.

Dolphin research center