Starting operations in 1990, with a profound sense of care and love for the dolphins.
Always looking for sharing all the knowledge that these beatiful friends have to share with us.
We invite you to read the history of our lives Scroll to discover more.
Dolphin Connection's Sylvia Rickett translates all of the marine mammal fact sheets developed by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums into Portuguese.
Dolphin Connection's Jess D'Ascanio co-authors a paper entitled Innovative Training Applications for the Management of Tursiops truncatus in a Natural Environment, highlighting our continual excellence toward the care and welfare of our dolphin family. The paper was presented at the 43rd annual conference of the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Dolphin Connection's Doug Messinger is appointed to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Dolphin Welfare Initiative, tasked with identifying and establishing guidelines for excellence in all aspects of dolphin well-being and care.
Dolphin Connection is acknowledged for excellence in Education and Conservation by the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA) for a presentation titled Marine Mammal Education: Do We Inspire Conservation? This presentation focused on educational efforts to motivate our guests to make a difference on behalf of ocean conservation.
Dolphin Connection is re-accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), an international organization representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities and professional organizations dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals, and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study and wildlife presentations. Inspection and re-accreditation takes place every five years.
Dolphin Connection's Cheryl Messinger is appointed Annual Meeting Planner for the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
Dolphin Connection's Cheryl Messinger is appointed Historian for the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
Dolphin Connection’s Sylvia Rickett and Haley Merritt publish a paper entitled Voluntary Hydration Simplified: Teaching Dolphins to Drink in IMATA’s Soundings magazine. The paper was originally presented at the 38th Annual IMATA Conference in Boston, MA.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger and Terran McGinnis publish a book entitled Marineland, which tells the story of Marine Studios/Marineland of Florida, the first oceanarium in the United States.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger co-authors a paper entitled Can Dolphins Be Seen Where There is No Sea: A History of Brookfield Zoo's Seven Seas Panorama with Rita Stacey-Vondra of the Chicago Zoological Society. The paper was presented at the 38th Annual IMATA Conference in Boston, MA.
Dolphin Connection becomes only the 2nd marine mammal facility to be accredited by the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA). IMATA was founded to foster communication, professionalism, and cooperation among those who serve marine mammal science through training, public display, research, husbandry, conservation, and education. Through inspections by professionals in the field, IMATA has recently begun offering accreditations to qualifying member institutions.
Dolphin Connection is acknowledged for excellence in Animal Welfare Advancement by The Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) for a presentation entitled Gelatin's Multiple Applications in Marine Animal Care and Training. This presentation explored the beneficial applications of edible gelatin use within a marine mammal training and husbandry program and was co-authored by staff from SeaWorld Florida.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger co-authors a paper entitled Twenty Five Years of Marine Mammal Education, Research and Conservation: A History of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) with AMMPA Executive Director Marilee Menard.
Dolphin Connection provides financial support for the “Don’t Feed Wild Dolphins” Public Service Announcement. This PSA was – and continues to be - broadcast in a variety of venues and depicts a variety of wild animals discussing their addictions to handouts of foods from humans.
Dolphin Connection's Haley Merritt joins the editing team of IMATA's Soundings magazine.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger co-authors a paper entitled Another Day in Paradise: An Early History of Dolphins in the Florida Keys with Linda Erb of the Dolphin Research Center and Nina Lambert of Theater of the Sea. This paper was presented at the 37th Annual IMATA Conference in Atlanta, GA.
Dolphin Connection’s Tracy Gaudio-Backhaus and Sue Palguta co-author a paper entitled Small Facility, Large Impact: Creative Strategies for Expanding Educational Opportunities with Limited Resources. This paper was presented at the 37th Annual IMATA Conference in Atlanta, GA.
Dolphin Connection’s Terran McGinnis is appointed as the co-chair of the Education Committee for the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger co-authors a paper entitled From Frohn to Flipper: The Early History of Miami Seaquarium’s Marine Mammal Training Program with Heather Keenan of the Miami Seaquarium. This paper was presented at the 36th Annual IMATA Conference in Cancun, Mexico.
Dolphin Connection is re-accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Inspections and re-accreditations take place every five years.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger co-authors a paper entitled All I Really Need to Know About Training I Could Have Learned from Marine Studios with Billy Hurley and Terran Rosenberg of Marineland’s Dolphin Conservation Center. This paper was presented at the 35th Annual IMATA Conference in Indianapolis, IN.
Dolphin Connection's Kylene Moore joins the editing team of IMATA's Soundings magazine.
Dolphin Connection’s Cheryl Messinger is appointed as Historian for the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association.
Dolphin Connection begins its annual tradition of sponsoring the Editor's Choice Award for the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA). A $350 cash award, sponsored by Dolphin Connection, is given to the author of the best conference abstract each year.
Dolphin Connection provides financial support for the “Don’t Feed Wild Dolphins” brochure printing. This campaign strives to inform the public about the dangers and lasting health impacts of feeding wild dolphins.
Dolphin Connection hosts the 33rd annual conference of the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Associat.
Dolphin Connection’s Sylvia Rickett and Martha Wells publish a paper entitled Don’t Shoot the Trainer in IMATA’s Soundings magazine. Focusing on the professional development and structured training programs for marine mammal trainers, this paper was originally presented at the 31st Annual IMATA conference in Long Beach, CA.
