Connect to Protect Marine Mammals of the Florida Keys

Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Rescue (DPMMR) is a marine mammal conservation and response team located in Key Largo, Florida. Their founder Richard Borguss strongly believed that allowing people to have meaningful interactions with dolphins was important and led the first ever swim in the United States with the dolphin program in 1980. The DPMMR team has been rescuing dolphins and whales in the Florida Keys since 1987. No matter the situation whether it be just 1 stranded dolphin in some fishing gear, or many in need of rescuing, DPMMR are the first responders that the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service can count on to get the job done. They are on the clock 24/7 every day of the year prepared to take on any type of marine mammal emergencies they encounter. 

The importance of connecting people with marine mammals through interactions is still incredibly important to this organization and you can book a private swim session and experience the dolphins up close in the “Connect to Protect” program. During this experience guests will meet one of the DPMMR trainers and get to spend time learning about the dolphins and guiding them through different behaviors like handshakes, belly rides, and splash fights. These types of encounters allow people to make a genuine connection with the animals while also being educational and promotes the protection of these species.

DPMMR has many other interactive programs that feature the dolphins and you can get to know them here , but “Connect and Protect” is their flagship program that is not offered anywhere else!

One of the research programs conducted by DPMMR is their photo identification program which characterizes the health, biology, behavior, and ecology of wild dolphins to aid in their conservation. This program, authorized by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, also serves to monitor the wild dolphin population and identify anthropogenic stressors as well as any infectious diseases that are impacting them. From this program they are able to identify hundreds of resident dolphins who live in Florida Bay and they support many other marine mammal conservation programs worldwide. Additionally, this program conducts follow up monitoring of dolphins and whales that have been treated at rehabilitation centers and were returned to the wild to determine their success after treatment. 

To read the 2019 DPMMR photo ID summary report (at the bottom) click here. There is also information on how to report a stranded marine mammal as well.

DPMMR values education and encourages getting involved through volunteering, internships, and even through some offered undergraduate and graduate programs. Volunteers will be able participate in a wide range of jobs and shifts that will give them the experience of working in a marine mammal rescue center. They also have a number of internships like animal care and training, research projects, and administration roles for marketing and public relations. DPMMR offers two on site courses through the University of Miami where students can get field experience and learn about the behavior and care of marine mammals. These kinds of programs really help bring the community into the world of marine mammals science which is important for conserving and protecting these species.