Nicks 'n' Notches Online
December 2017

Welcome to Nicks 'n' Notches Online, the enewsletter of the 
Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.
RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION SINCE 1970.
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) is a collaboration dedicated to dolphin research, conservation and education.   
 
It began in 1970 at Mote Marine Laboratory when Blair Irvine and high school student Randy Wells started a pilot tagging study to find out whether dolphins on Florida's central west coast remained in the area or traveled more widely. In 1974, with a contract from the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, they were joined by Michael Scott and expanded the study with radio-telemetry.
 
Their subsequent discovery of long-term residency set the stage for today's efforts by demonstrating opportunities to study individually identifiable dolphins throughout their lives in a natural laboratory setting.   

Our work is conducted under the name "Sarasota Dolphin Research Program." This name ties together several organizations dedicated to ensuring the continuity of our long-term research, conservation and education efforts in Sarasota Bay and elsewhere.

The SDRP has been operated by the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) since 1989. 

"Dolphin Biology Research Institute," is a Sarasota-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation established in 1982. It provides logistical support with research vessels, towing vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc. 

Since 1992, the program has been based at Mote Marine Laboratory on City Island in Sarasota Bay, with office, lab, storage and dock space and easy access to boat launching ramps within the home range of the Sarasota Bay resident dolphins.
 
Notes from the Field and Lab...
   Randall Wells, Ph.D., Director
I hope you have been able to celebrate the holidays with your friends and loved ones and are approaching the new year with enthusiasm.
 
As you may have gathered from your copy of Nicks'n'Notches, it has been a busy year for our team, in terms of research, conservation and education.   
 
While on a dolphin survey earlier this week, I was presented with an opportunity to reflect on what our work may mean for the local Sarasota dolphins themselves -- in a fairly direct sense -- when we encountered a group of four long-term resident mothers and their calves (three born in 2017, one from 2016) entering Big Pass from the Gulf.   
 

Over the decades, we had assisted three of the four moms:   

  • During a health assessment in 1988, we removed a stingray barb from the head of the yearling's mother. 
  • We were among the first responders when Ginger stranded on Siesta Beach in 2008, within sight of where we were watching her with her second calf.
  • Nellie, who we rescued and disentangled from plastic line embedded in the skin around her head in 2010, was in the group, with her first calf. 
Who knows how many of these six dolphins would be with us today had it not been for SDRP's help?
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your interest in the SDRP and your support. We learned and accomplished a great deal in 2017 and look forward to learning more and doing all we can for dolphins and their habitat in the coming year.
 
Wishing you all the best and a "porpoiseful" 2018,
 
Randy Wells
Please Consider Supporting the Work We Do This Holiday Season
If you believe in the work we do and will be making any charitable donations before the end of the year, please consider supporting the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. 
OR
  • You can mail a check to Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, 708 Tropical Circle, Sarasota, FL 34242
Gift checks mailed via U.S. Postal Service with check date on or before Dec. 31, 2017 will be counted for 2017, regardless of when they are received. Gifts made online before midnight EST on Dec. 31, 2017, will be counted for 2017.
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A Look Back at 2017
Here's a short video snapshot of some of the things we did in 2017. For a full review of our work, please read our latest annual report, Nicks 'n' Notches January 2018 edition.

Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
708 Tropical Circle
Sarasota, FL  34242
941.349.3259
info@sarasotadolphin.org 


Dedicated to dolphin research, conservation  and education since 1970.

Dolphin Biology Research Institute (DBA Sarasota Dolphin Research Program) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to research and conservation of dolphins and their habitat. Employer Identification No. 59-2288387; Florida Charitable Contributions Solicitations Registration No. CH1172. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL FLORIDA REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR AT WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THIS ORGANIZATION RETAINS 100% OF ALL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED.