The latest initiative at Atlantis,
Paradise Island in the Bahamas involves neither guest rooms nor
water slides but aquariums and marine mammals.
The megaresort
has received accreditation by the Association of Zoos &
Aquariums' independent accreditation commission.
"Only the very
best zoos and aquariums can meet the tough accreditation standards
of AZA," said Jim Maddy, AZA president and CEO. "The leadership and staff of Atlantis are to be
congratulated for the hard work and commitment that they put into
the accreditation process."
Atlantis cares
for more than 50,000 
marine animals and offers
educational programs for its guests about the marine animals on
site.
Currently, the
resort is completing the curriculum for a science program for
children in grades seven through nine that will help prepare them
for a career in marine science.
Atlantis is home
to the world's largest open-air marine habitat and the 11-acre
Dolphin Cay, a dolphin interaction and education center.
Frank Murru,
chief marine officer for Kerzner International, which owns and
operates Atlantis, said that the habitat and dolphin facility were
created "to enlighten visitors about the wonders of the remarkable
ocean inhabitants."
Dolphin Cay also
is the current residence of 16 rescued "Katrina dolphins." Some of
them were swept to sea during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 from their
previous habitat at the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport,
Miss.
The first
offspring from the rescued Katrina dolphins were born at Dolphin
Cay earlier this month.
Kelly, a
32-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, gave birth on April 4;
21-year-old Michelle gave birth to a calf on April 6.
All of Dolphin
Cay's Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live in 11 interconnected pools
filled with nearly 7 million gallons of seawater. They are cared
for by a team of 55 specialists.
To contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].