Dolphin/Whale Hospital Mote Marine Laboratory

Dolphin & Whale Hospital

and

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital

at Mote Marine Laboratory

Animal Care News

April 30, 2004

Volume 5, Issue 1

Inside this issue . . .
DWH News
Jack is released
Sea Turtle Hospital
Sea Turtle Exhibit
Stranding Investigations
Manatees
Cash For Critters

We have a new fundraising project for the Dolphin and Whale Hospital and we hope all of the volunteers will help make it a success!    Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital has joined the Cash for Critters Program.  Here’s how it works:  Collect all your empty ink jet and laser cartridges and bring them to the Collection Box in the Animal Care Office.  We’ll package them up and send them in for recycling.  Cash for Critters will pay the hospital $2.00-$4.00 for ink jet cartridges and $2.00-$12.00 for each cartridge we collect.  This is good for the hospital and good for the environment, as recycling the cartridges reduces waste that goes to the environment.

When your computer printers run out of ink, please bring us the used cartridges.  Collect used cartridges from your friends and workplace as well!  The more cartridges we collect, the more money we make for the Dolphin and Whale Hospital.

For more information about Cash For Critters, check out their website at www.CKArecycleaid.com.

Toro is Rescued, Rehabilitated and Released

Toro, a young female bottlenose dolphin, was released on Tuesday, May 4, 2004 into her home waters of Bull Bay , near Charlotte Harbor, Florida.  Toro had been brought to the Dolphin and Whale Hospital on March 9, 2003 after scientists from Mote’s Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research had observed the animal trailing monofilament fishing line from a damaged right pectoral fin. The dolphin was captured for treatment and assessment, and it was determined that the wounds on the pectoral fin caused by line entanglement were too severe to allow the animal to remain in the wild without treatment.  Toro was brought to the Dolphin and Whale Hospital to recover.

Treatment of the wounds to this animal involved three surgeries to remove pieces of monofilament fishing line that had become embedded in the wounds, followed by daily wound care.  After 56 days of rehabilitation, Toro’s wounds were healed and she was deemed fit for release back to the wild.

Toro is currently being monitored by scientists from Mote’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research Program as part of a long-term study of wild dolphins in the Charlotte Harbor area.  Since her release she has been observed socializing with other dolphins and feeding normally.

DWH News

Two new patients have arrived at Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital this spring.  Both are Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, and both were brought to the hospital for treatment after separate stranding events along Florida ’s west coast.

Caesar, a large adult male dolphin, stranded near Pass-a- Grille Beach in Pinellas County on March 23, 2004 .  Caesar is an older dolphin suffering from gastrointestinal infections and possible complications from old wounds that may be the result of a sting ray barb.  He is currently responding well to treatment.  He was underweight on arrival at the hospital but is eating well now and gaining weight.

Mayo is a young male dolphin suffering from multiple severe shark bite wounds.  This animal stranded near Indian Rocks Beach and arrived at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital on May 3, 2004 .  In addition to the bite wounds covering his body, Mayo suffered from severe pneumonia, gastrointestinal problems and emaciation.  Mayo arrived at the hospital in extremely critical condition and his prognosis was very guarded. 

Mayo is now able to swim on his own, and he is eating well.  Like Jack, who was released earlier this year, the greatest challenge to Mayo’s rehabilitation is the severity of his wounds, which must be treated daily.  A number of the wounds had abcessed and needed to be opened and drained for healing to occur.  The dolphin is currently on antibiotics to control infection, and medication to aid in the healing of gastrointestinal infections and ulcers.  This animal faces a long and difficult rehabilitation, but he is responding to treatment and his condition is improving.

The arrival of these animals temporarily raised the number of patients at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital to five, and resulted in a tremendous amount of work for the staff and volunteers.  The hospital staff would like to thank the hospital volunteers who put in extra effort to make sure all the shifts were covered.  Thank you very much for all of your help!

Vixen and Moonshine, the dolphins currently residing in the Donna Wolf Stagerwaldt Rehabilitation Lagoon, are doing well.  They are a treat for guests at the aquarium, who can view the dolphins as they travel between the gift shop and Interactive Theater.  Both dolphins are active and playful.  They continue to undergo long term rehabilitative care.

Jack Returns to the East Coast

The Dolphin and Whale Hospital said good bye to Jack the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin on March 12, 2004 .  Jack was transported by truck from Mote Marine Laboratory to the Amelia Island area, just off the coast of Jacksonville , Florida , for release back into the Atlantic Ocean .  The dolphin did very well on the five and one half hour transport back to the wild.  Upon release, Jack had a few disorienting encounters with a sand bar before swimming offshore to join groups of other bottlenose dolphins body surfing on the five foot swells.

Jack arrived at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital on October 30, 2003 in extremely critical condition.  He was suffering from pneumonia, gastritis, enteritis and severe third-degree burns on his left side caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight during the stranding event.  The wounds caused by sunburn proved to be the biggest challenge to hospital staff during Jack’s rehabilitation, as they were very deep and required daily treatment for over four months.  After 124 days of care, Jack was deemed fit for release and permission was obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) to release Jack back into the Atlantic Ocean near the area where he stranded.

Like all dolphins released from Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital , Jack was closely monitored after his release to insure that he did well on his own after rehabilitation.  Scientists from Mote’s Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research and Dolphin and Whale Hospital Staff tracked Jack for two days by boat using a radio transmitter tag attached to his dorsal fin.  Jack traveled over 9 miles south during his first day of tracking after release, and was observed interacting with other dolphins.  On the second day after release, Jack had traveled over 20 miles south, and was also observed playing and breaching in the company of other dolphins.  Jack was tracked using the radio transmitter by air for the next several weeks and was last located near Ft. Pierce , Florida over 200 miles from the release site.  All indications are that Jack has readjusted well to life in the wild.

This dolphin’s rehabilitation would not have been possible without the exceptional hard work and dedication shown by the Dolphin and Whale Hospital volunteers, not only by carefully monitoring Jack during shifts but also by arriving early every morning to assist with his wound care.  Jack’s rehabilitation was one of the most challenging and rewarding cases to date, and the staff would like to say a special thank you to the volunteers who made the return of this animal to the wild possible.

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation

Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital has had a busy year!  For the fifth year in a row, the Hospital has received juvenile sea turtles from cold stunning events in the New England area.  This year Mote received 8 turtles (6 Kemp’s Ridley turtles, 1 green and 1 hybrid) for follow up care.  This year’s group has recovered quickly.  Four of the turtles were released April 20, 2004 near Ormond Beach on Florida ’s east coast.  The remaining four turtles are undergoing the last stages of rehabilitation and it is expected that they will be released very soon.

On February 13, Turtle T, the Kemps Ridley turtle living with Hugh and Buffet in the Manatee Exhibit, was humanely euthanized due to internal tumors. Turtle T had suffered from recurrent tumors, both internally and externally, since admission to the hospital in early 2001.  Necropsy revealed the presence of at least six large internal tumors.  Samples of the tumors were sent for analysis to determine their origin.

Since April 2, 2004 the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital has received 5 juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, all suffering from similar symptoms.  The turtles are found floating or stranded in the Sarasota area with severe anemia, dehydration and lethargy.  All of the turtles are emaciated and most are covered with barnacles.  One of these turtles JAf A, died shortly after arrival.  The remaining four turtles, Sherlock, Boca, Super II and Venus, are responding to treatment and beginning to recover.  This unusual stranding event involving loggerhead sea turtles of similar age and size is being investigated by Hospital staff.  Blood and tissue samples have been sent away for analysis in hopes of finding the cause of this condition.  We will be watching closely to see if other turtles in Florida strand with similar symptoms.

Pappy, the juvenile green sea  turtle suffering from pappiloma tumors has taken up residency in the manatee tank with Hugh and Buffett.  Pappy has been tumor free for 9 months, and we hope to be able to release him by the end of the summer.

Sea Turtle Exhibit

The Sea Turtle Exhibit inhabitants continue to do well.  Edgar, Shelley and Montego’s tanks will be repaired again sometime in May, since the first repairs did not work well.  The turtles will be off exhibit for possibly two weeks again during this time.

An adult male loggerhead sea turtle is currently on loan from Sea World, Orlando.  Divit weighs 260 pounds and is from the same research project at the University of North Carolina that Shelley and Montego came from.  He is in the tank with the two adult females for the continuation of a reproductive study and will be returned to Sea World before tank repairs begin in May.  The three of them seem to be getting along fine, with occasional chasing.  The girls will be monitored weekly to watch for egg development and changes in hormone levels.

The Hatchling Hospital is gearing up for nesting season.  We plan on continuing with the physical therapy on those hatchlings with flipper constrictions and treating those with ant bites as we have in the past.  We are also planning on collecting data to look at reasons for mortality on our beaches.

Stranding Investigations Program Jan-Apr 2004

Between December 23, 2003 and April 5, 2004, the Stranding Investigations Program (SIP) has been busy responding to reports of stranded dolphins, whales, manatees and sea turtles.   SIP responded to 58 incidents:  19 manatee related, 16 dolphin or whale related and 15 sea turtle related calls.  (The 8 remaining calls regarded birds, red tide, sharks and terrestrial turtles, which are not in SIP’s jurisdiction.)  These reports resulted in recovery of 3 dead dolphins (or partial remains) and rescues of 4 live dolphins!  In addition, 7 dead sea turtles were recovered, while 3 were rescued (not including the 8 sea turtles transferred from New England to MML in February).  See below for details of these strandings.

Rescue Update!

**MML 0335 “Placida”– This dolphin was rescued in November 2003 by veterinarians, scientists and volunteers from the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) and Mote Marine Laboratory (MML).  “Placida” continues to be seen by our scientists and citizens and appears to be doing very well.  Since removal of monofilament and medical treatment upon rescue, “Placida” seems to have broadened her range outside of Placida Harbor , where she was consistently seen with her mother before rescue, to include Lemon Bay and other more northern areas.  Also see the article entitled “Saving Placida” by Nadine Slimak in the Spring 2004 Mote Magazine regarding this young dolphin’s story!

Figure 1:  “Placida’s” fluke November 2003 before rescue with trailing monofilament

Figure 2:  “Placida” in March 2004 with healing wounds (photo credit SDRP)   

Dolphin and Whale Strandings

MML 0340 – This bottlenose dolphin skull was found by an Englewood citizen on the bottom of Stump Pass channel while diving in December, 2003.  Only the skull was found and was hand-delivered to MML to document the stranding and accession the skull into our collection.

MML 0401 – This subadult bottlenose dolphin stranded in Tampa Bay on the property of Port Manatee and was reported to MML on February 12, 2004.  Due to condition of carcass (mummified), only the skull was retained by MML for examination.

MML 0402 – This adult female bottlenose dolphin was also reported on February 12, 2004 in Tampa Bay ’s Bishop Harbor .  Scientists from the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab (MMPL) in St. Petersburg arrived prior to MML’s arrival, necropsied the dolphin and secured it for decomposition in the mangroves.  Skull was retained for examination.

MML 0403 “Toro” – This live female bottlenose dolphin was first seen by Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) staff on February 20, 2004 with monofilament entanglement of the dorsal fin and right pectoral flipper.  After consultation with NOAA Fisheries, the decision was made to rescue and disentangle the dolphin.  In an effort coordinated by SDRP, MML and NOAA Fisheries, the dolphin was rescued on March 9, 2004 in Charlotte Harbor ’s Bull Bay .  Monofilament was removed, but due to the severity of the wound to the pectoral flipper, the animal was taken to rehabilitation at MML’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital .  “Toro” is currently undergoing rehab at MML – see www.mote.org for updates on continuing care. (Photo credits SDRP)

Figure 3:  “Toro’s” dorsal fin with embedded monofilament

Figure 4:  Removing monofilament entangled and embedded in right pectoral flipper

Figure 5:  Monofilament removed from dolphin

MML 0404 – This live bottlenose dolphin stranded in Tampa Bay at Coquina Key on March 2, 2004.  The dolphin was rescued by MMPL staff, but died during transport to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute two hours later.  MMPL and MML staff necropsied the dolphin in St. Petersburg on March 3.  Cause of death was due to a foreign body (catfish spine) perforation to the lung, diaphragm, stomach and intestine.

MML 0405 – This live adult male dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) stranded on Boca Grande on March 20, 2004.  Citizens, law enforcement and volunteer Jennifer Fazzone secured the whale for examination by MML staff.  Upon MML’s arrival to the site, the whale was positioned in the stranding truck and transport began.  Unfortunately the whale died en route to the Dolphin and Whale Hospital and necropsy was performed the following day.  Cause of death is currently undetermined, awaiting histopathology analysis.

MML 0406 “Caesar II” – This live male bottlenose dolphin stranded on Pass-A-Grille beach in St. Petersburg on March 23, 2004.  Staff from the MMPL responded to the event and transported the dolphin to the Dolphin and Whale Hospital for rehab.  “Caesar II” began swimming and eating fish right away.  He is currently undergoing rehab at DWH – see www.mote.org for updates on continuing care.

Sea Turtle Strandings

ST 0401 – This female loggerhead was found dead off Anna Maria Island on January 11, 2004.  This animal was the victim of multiple human-interactions:  a fatal boat propeller strike to the skull and multiple fishing hooks found embedded in the muscle of both shoulders.  Cause of death for this turtle was determined to be human-related by way of boat strike.

ST 0402 – This female Kemp’s ridley was found on January 13, 2003 on Manasota Key Beach .  Even though this animal was moderately decomposed, a necropsy was performed, but cause of death could not be determined due to advanced decomposition.

ST 0403 – This immature green turtle was found on Siesta Key Beach on January 24, 2004.  Carcass was severely decomposed, and fibropapillomas were present and documented on the flippers.  Due to its condition, a necropsy was not performed and cause of death was undetermined.

ST 0404 – This immature female green turtle stranded near Kingfish boat ramp in Bradenton on February 3, 2004.  A necropsy was performed and cause of death was documented as emaciation secondary to fibropapilloma blindness, possible cold stun and/or possible red tide intoxication.

ST 0405 – This live green turtle was found floating on February 4, 2004 in Sarasota Bay off of Longboat Key.  Fibropapillomas were present on both eyes and base of all flippers.  The turtle was transported from Mote to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), but died en route.  Necropsy at CMA found cause of death resulting from cold-stun.

ST 0406 – This immature male green turtle was found floating in Sarasota Bay off of Longboat Key on February 5, 2004.  Necropsy of this turtle revealed cause of death to be natural with emaciation, possible cold-stun, and possible red tide intoxication with post-mortem boat strike.

ST 0407 – ST 0414 are all hypothermia (cold stun) sea turtles stranded near Cape Cod, Massachusetts this winter and transported to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in February.  See www.mote.org for updates on continuing care of these turtles.

ST 0407 “Dory” – This juvenile Kemp’s Ridley turtle stranded November 29, 2003 in Wellfleet , MA .

ST 0408 “Gill” – This juvenile Kemp’s ridley stranded in Truro , MA on November 30, 2003.

ST 0409 “Bruce” – This juvenile Kemp’s Ridley stranded in Barnstable , MA on December 1, 2003.

ST 0410 “Anchor” – This juvenile Kemp’s ridley stranded on November 15, 2003 in Eastham , MA from hypothermia, but also had a midline carapace fracture and an exposed bone in the right hind flipper.

ST 0411 “Marlin” – This juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtle stranded on Shaket Beach in Orleans , MA on November 15, 2003.

ST 0412 “Pearl” – This juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtle was found stranded on November 30, 2003 in Barnstable , MA .

ST 0413 “Crush” – This juvenile green turtle stranded on Shaket Beach in Orleans , MA on November 16, 2003.

ST 0414 “Squirt” – This juvenile green/hawksbill hybrid sea turtle stranded on Robbins Hill Beach in Brewster , MA on November 10, 2003.  See www.mote.org for great photos of this beautiful hybrid turtle!

ST 0415 – This green turtle carcass stranded in a canal on Bird Key around February 25, 2004.  As a citizen had been illegally holding the carcass in his backyard (to keep the shell), Mote staff was unable to examine the turtle until notified weeks later, at which point the carcass consisted of only skeletal remains.  Possession of a protected or endangered species, even a carcass, without a permit is prohibited by law.

ST 0416 – This green turtle stranded live on Whitney Beach on Longboat Key on March 6, 2004.  The turtle was very lethargic, emaciated and had fibropapillomas covering both eyes and flippers.  Turtle was transported to CMA, but died en route to rehabilitation.

ST 0417 – This loggerhead sea turtle stranded March 8, 2004 on the Gulf of Mexico shore of Longboat Key .  Though this animal was severely decomposed, a necropsy was performed, but cause of death was unable to be determined due to carcass condition.

ST 0418 “Sherlock Holmes” – This loggerhead stranded live on Holmes Beach on April 2, 2004 and was transported by Anna Maria Turtle Watch personnel to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Turtle was covered in barnacles and algae and was emaciated.  After determining the turtle to be anemic, on April 3, 2004, it was given a blood transfusion to help with the anemia.  See updates regarding continuing care at www.mote.org .

The Stranding Investigations Program would like to thank all volunteers involved in rescue and stranding efforts during this period!

Manatee Exhibit

Hugh and Buffett have begun the testing phase of a vibrissae tactile sensitivity study and are progressing very rapidly at the task.  Training for a research project that will investigate the localization abilities of manatees has been initiated.  The results from the auditory evoked potential study are being utilized as a basis for the localization project. Testing conducted with Hugh and Buffett on the National Geographic Crittercam will be utilized in field deployments in Belize this May.  We are also continuing with husbandry training and the thermoregulatory study.  Unfortunately "T", a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, had to be euthanized due to the discovery of numerous internal tumors caused by the Papilloma virus and probable liver failure.  The manatees are currently sharing their habitat with “Pappy”, a green sea turtle.  Pappy is undergoing rehabilitation and could be released back into the wild as early as July.  We would like to welcome our new Manatee Research Trainer, Jennifer Leach.