Dolphin Research Center (DRC), based in Grassy Key, Florida, has reported a record number of manatee rescues in the Florida Keys by May 2025, surpassing its total for all of 2024. The organization is the only licensed manatee rescue team operating in the region.
The DRC Manatee Rescue Team works closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and relies on medical oversight from Dr. Scott Gearhart, the center’s in-house veterinarian. When manatees are found injured or ill, they are assessed and transported to authorized rehabilitation facilities until they recover enough to be released back into their natural habitat.
Preston Surrage, who serves on the Manatee Rescue Team and Environmental Services at DRC, described his experiences: “Every rescue matters, because every manatee matters,” said Surrage. “I’ve stood in the water with manatees barely moving, helped carry them into transport vehicles, and waited in the shallows during releases to see them swim free again. Those moments stay with you forever and remind you why we do this.”
Community involvement has played a significant role in these efforts. Local residents have provided resources such as boats, kayaks, private ramps, sunscreen, water supplies, and have kept watch over distressed animals until help arrived.
“This is what makes the Keys so special,” Surrage added. “It’s a community that comes together—not just for people, but for animals too. Every act of kindness makes a real difference.”
Dolphin Research Center operates as a nonprofit organization and depends on donations, memberships, and visitor support to continue its work rescuing marine mammals. For more information or ways to support their Manatee Rescue Team or other conservation initiatives, visit www.dolphins.org.
Founded in 1984, Dolphin Research Center also focuses on education and research involving dolphins and sea lions while promoting stewardship of marine environments through various programs.
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