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A quick look at Discovery Cove's popular residents.
Species
Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Size
Adult dolphins average 8-10 feet and weigh 300-600 pounds. Males
may be slightly larger than females.
Behavior
Dolphins are extremely social animals, devoting much of their day's
activity to interacting with others. Both young and old dolphins
chase one another and invite each other to interact in a variety
of ways.
Communication
Dolphins communicate with squeaking, grunting and trilling sounds.
They send messages through body language by breaching (leaping out
of the water and landing on their sides) and smacking their tail
flukes against the water.
Diet
Dolphins eat a wide variety of fish, squid and crustaceans.
Breeding
Many of the dolphins at Discovery Cove are the product of SeaWorld's
breeding program, the most successful such program in the world
today.
Training and Interaction
All of the dolphins at Discovery Cove have been specially selected
and trained for guest interaction. The training process is based
on positive reinforcement and maintaining a relationship of trust
and respect between the animal and its trainers. These same trainers
guide guests through their dolphin-swim experiences.
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