Bottlenose dolphins have long called the warm waters of the Indian River Lagoon in central Florida home. However in recent years this area has become a hotspot of concern for those interested in protecting the much-loved mammals.

On March 9th, a team of marine animal rescue experts --from SeaWorld Orlando, NOAA Fisheries Services, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Chicago Zoological Society, Mote Marine Lab, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and University of Florida – worked together to free a dolphin that had been tangled in fishing line in the Ten Thousand Islands area, a chain of islands off the coast of southwest Florida between Cape Romano and Marco Island.

The pilot whale is a high-flying member of the dolphin family and can be seen making audiences smile during the spectacular “Blue Horizons” show at SeaWorld San Diego, alongside Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Earlier this afternoon, an animal rescue team from SeaWorld Orlando, working with experts from Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., transported a juvenile melon-headed whale from Mote Marine Laboratory’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital to SeaWorld’s Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility where it will receive long-term care.

The southern California coastline is home to an abundance of amazing sea life. The fertile waters in Ventura County are host to 26 types of whales, dolphins and porpoises and six species of seals and sea lions. Yet, until recently, there was no rescue and rehabilitation facility in the area devoted to these charismatic creatures of the deep.

Three times each day, a team of animal experts at SeaWorld Orlando perform hands-on, physical therapy on a once-stranded pilot whale. "300" has scoliosis, or a curvature of the spine.

SeaWorld San Diego welcomes a new addition to our marine mammal family: an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin calf!

Recently, SeaWorld Orlando's animal rescue team returned three sea turtles to the waters off Florida's east coast. Each of the turtles had been cared for by the park's animal experts.

For a unique point-of-view, the team used GoPro video cameras and we think the look is pretty amazing. It's what it's like to help return now-healthy sea turtles to the wild.

From Wisconsin to California to Hawaii, Dr. Chris Dold has had his fair share of traveling. And SeaWorld can’t be happier to call him the Vice President of Veterinary Services. Chris has been making a difference with SeaWorld for five years and continues to succeed in helping animals thrive.

With its black and white coloring and porpoise-like shape, the Commerson’s dolphin may not look like a typical dolphin. You might even think they’re mini Shamus. Don’t let their coloring or size fool you! These high-energy dolphins have the same playful personalities as their relatives and even bigger appetites!