Humans Welcome! The Protect Center Breaks Ground & Opens Doors – DPMMR

Imagine getting a call about a stranded dolphin and realizing you might not have the tools to save it. For the team at Marine Mammal Responder (MMR) in the Florida Keys, that heartbreak is far too familiar—and it’s exactly why they’re building something extraordinary: Florida Keys first-ever marine mammal hospital.

This long-awaited facility, now under construction in Islamorada at MMR’s The Protect Center, is a game-changer for marine mammals and the dedicated rescuers. While the project has been years in the making, recent progress has made it very real—and very exciting—for both rescuers and the community.

“We’ve been working toward this for years,” says Hunter Kinney, Director of Development at MMR. “Breaking ground isn’t just about concrete and construction—it’s about hope. It means we’re finally close to offering real care to dolphins and small whales that strand and need help.”

A recent rescue served as a stark reminder of that urgency. MMR received a report of a dolphin stranded near Long Key State Park. When their team arrived, they discovered something unexpected: a 5.5-foot pygmy killer whale, a species very rarely seen in the Florida Keys. Despite the team’s efforts and a difficult decision to humanely euthanize the critically ill animal, the experience underscored why this hospital is so crucial.

“The worst part of our job is losing an animal we might have saved,” says Kinney. “That whale wasn’t a candidate for rehabilitation, but the next one might be. We need to be ready.”

MMR’s future hospital will feature a 56,000-gallon saltwater ICU tank—large enough to treat dolphins and small whales who strand due to injury, illness, or disorientation. Before accepting patients, the facility must meet licensing requirements set by the National Marine Fisheries Service, but the ball is rolling and gaining speed.

The Protect Center is open to the public and invites the community to explore, learn, and support the mission.

The new Hard Hat Tour is offered twice daily. The 30-45 minute experience gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the construction site, the MMR mission, and the soon-to-open hospital. The tour also includes admission to the Exploratorium, a hands-on museum packed with aquariums, local ecology exhibits, touch tanks, and even a soon-to-arrive alligator exhibit.

“The Exploratorium tells the story of who we are,” Kinney explains. “People leave with a real understanding of marine mammal rescue, the Florida Keys ecosystem, and what’s at stake.”

And if that’s not enough reason to stop in, The Protect Center’s eco-friendly gift shop seals the deal. Stocked with sustainable, ethically sourced, and eco-beneficial items, 100% of every purchase supports hospital development. The shop even includes a Refillery Station, the first of its kind in Islamorada, where customers can purchase or bring their own containers to fill up on ultra-clean vegan household and beauty products like cleaning spray, detergent, soap, shampoos, lotions, and reef-safe sunscreen.

“Our guests love the refill station,” says Amanda Daniels, Assistant Director of Development. “It helps reduce single-use plastic that pollutes our ocean.”

Every visitor and shopper supports a larger cause: providing lifesaving care to marine mammals in need. To further ensure construction runs uninterrupted, you can donate to the “Fill the Tank” campaign that is raising a dollar for every gallon of the ICU tank.

“We’re a small team taking on a huge mission,” Kinney says. “Whether someone visits, donates, or just shares our story—we’re grateful. It moves us closer to a future where no dolphin or whale is left in need.”

The Exploratorium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more, donate or to book a Hard Hat Tour, visit ConnectToProtect.org/hospital.