Submitted by dolphin-connection on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 16:02

January was a busy month for us here at The Dolphin Connection! We hosted the annual meeting of the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Breeding Consortium, of which we are a founding member. The Consortium is a partnership of skilled marine mammal specialists from zoos and aquariums all across the United States who work closely together to provide a sustainable and genetically-sound population of dolphins. Those in attendance included veterinarians and other professionals from the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo; Disney’s Epcot Living Seas; National Aquarium in Baltimore; Minnesota Zoo; Indianapolis Zoo and Texas State Aquarium, as well, of course, The Dolphin Connection.
Discussions provided updates on ongoing advances in dolphin husbandry, research and breeding, including much discussion about the group’s participation in artificial insemination techniques, which allows for pregnancies to occur without having to move or relocate dolphins. Artificial insemination is especially important to us here at The Dolphin Connection, where we are currently providing homes to several old, retired male dolphins, whose contributions to a frozen zoo will allow them to continue to produce healthy babies for many generations to come!
Another less exciting, but important, part of the meeting was an inspection of our facilities, procedures, management, and programs by the members in attendance. This peer review provides vital feedback, suggestions for areas of improvement, and is a great catalyst for the sharing and exchange of information between facilities. The way we see it, this translates to the best care possible for our dolphin family!
We are so grateful for our partnership with the Consortium facilities, are proud of the high standards of care we collectively and voluntarily provide to our dolphins on a daily basis, and are honored to be establishing excellence for the future. It is our hope that the hard work and dedication that takes place behind the scenes is absolutely clear when you come to the Keys to meet our unbelievable staff and animals!

Dolphin Connection Blog - February 201002/05/2010

January was a busy month for us here at The Dolphin Connection! We hosted the annual meeting of the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Breeding Consortium, of which we are a founding member. The Consortium is a partnership of skilled marine mammal specialists from zoos and aquariums all across the United States who work closely together to provide a sustainable and genetically-sound population of dolphins. Those in attendance included veterinarians and other professionals from the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo; Disney’s Epcot Living Seas; National Aquarium in Baltimore; Minnesota Zoo; Indianapolis Zoo and Texas State Aquarium, as well, of course, The Dolphin Connection. Discussions provided updates on ongoing advances in dolphin husbandry, research and breeding, including much discussion about the group’s participation in artificial insemination techniques, which allows for pregnancies to occur without having to move or relocate dolphins. Artificial insemination is especially important to us here at The Dolphin Connection, where we are currently providing homes to several old, retired male dolphins, whose contributions to a frozen zoo will allow them to continue to produce healthy babies for many generations to come! Another less exciting, but important, part of the meeting was an inspection of our facilities, procedures, management, and programs by the members in attendance. This peer review provides vital feedback, suggestions for areas of improvement, and is a great catalyst for the sharing and exchange of information between facilities. The way we see it, this translates to the best care possible for our dolphin family! We are so grateful for our partnership with the Consortium facilities, are proud of the high standards of care we collectively and voluntarily provide to our dolphins on a daily basis, and are honored to be establishing excellence for the future. It is our hope that the hard work and dedication that takes place behind the scenes is absolutely clear when you come to the Keys to meet our unbelievable staff and animals!
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