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Dolphin & Whale Hospital
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Current Patients
Vixen Moonshine Harley Former Patients CR Armand Ami Anna Maria Jade Nemo Mia Jason Dana Hemingway Hutch Ginny Peanut Hercules Holly Pumbaa Pasco Vera Alvin Blitzen Comet Donner Abbey Buster Gulliver Mark Belle Benny Juno Richey Lunar Freeway Matt |
| Species: Tursiops truncatus (offshore stock) (bottlenose dolphin) Age Class: adult Gender: Male Date Stranded: 30 Jan 1997 Location of Stranding: Crescent Beach, near St. Augustine, FL Date of Arrival at MML: 9 Mar 1997 Number of Days of Care: 111 total (39 Marineland + 72 MML) Final Disposition: Released on 20 May 1997 Followup: Tracked via radio and satellite tags |
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Gulliver stranded for unknown reasons (elevated liver values and leukocytosis) and was taken to Marineland for rehab. He was placed on prophylactic antibiotics and ulcer medication. The dolphin soon began eating and swimming, but often remained motionless at the surface between feeds. It was thought that recovery would be enhanced in a larger pool so Gulliver was transferred to MML by Marineland staff on Day 39. Pulmonary disease and a urinary tract infection was subsequently diagnosed and treated. His behavior of resting at the surface between feeds continued. On 9 April (Day 70) Gulliver was moved from the isolation pool to the rehab lagoon in an effort to stimulate more active swimming. No change in behavior was noted, but he did respond well to fish thrown around the lagoon. The pulmonary and urinary tract diseases resolved with antibiotics, and the dolphin was released ~35 miles east of Port Canaveral, having been off all medication for nearly a month. He was tracked by satellite transmitter for 47 days and had moved to an area near the eastern Caribbean island of Barbuda in that time. |
| Lessons: 1- Offshore species may find even our 200,000 gal lagoon "too small" to merit normal swimming/diving behavior. A to B targeting useful to promote muscular conditioning. |
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