Dolphin/Whale Hospital Mote Marine Laboratory

Dolphin & Whale Hospital

and

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital

at Mote Marine Laboratory

Animal Care News

October 10, 2004

Volume 5, Issue 2

Inside this issue . . .
DWH News
Caesar II is released
Sea Turtle Hospital
Sea Turtle Exhibit
Stranding Investigations
Manatees
Animal Handler Class October 15-16, 2004

There will be an Animal Handler Class held for new volunteers on October 15 and 16, 2004.  This class is filling up fast, so if you know someone interested in volunteering with the Dolphin and Whale Hospital , please have them contact Lisa Duffy at duffy@mote.org.  The class will be held again in January or February 2005.

Stenos Arrive At Mote!

On August 6, 2004 , seven very special patients arrived at Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital .  These seven dolphins were the only survivors of a mass stranding of 37 rough-toothed dolphins on Hutchinson Island on the southeast coast of Florida . The surviving dolphins, named for the seven dwarfs of the Snow White fairy tale, were transported to Mote by researchers from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. All of the dolphins were suffering from pneumonia, infections and liver problems.  Several of the dolphins also had serious external wounds as well.  Most of the dolphins had to be supported upon arrival at the hospital.  In the days following their arrival, two of the dolphins died.  Grumpy, one of the large males, died on the evening of August 10.  Necropsy revealed red fluids in the chest, abdomen and pericardial sac, as well as severe changes to the lungs.  Happy, another large male, died suddenly on August 17, 2004 .  Necropsy revealed hemorrhages in the brain and heart.  Histopathology results are pending on both animals.  The medical team at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital is working very hard to determine the origin of this condition in these dolphins. It is suspected that this may be a previously undescribed viral disease with pathology that attacks the immune system, causing multiple infections.

The remaining five dolphins are responding very well to treatment.  Although their appetites remain variable, their white counts have come down and their wounds are healing.  It is hoped that these animals can be released back to the wild in the near future.

Caring for this group of dolphins has been extremely challenging for the staff and volunteers at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital .  In addition to requiring more volunteers to man the shifts than usual, the hospital was required to purchase an additional freezer and hire a temporary staff member to cover their care and feeding.  Costs for equipment and medications have increased substantially.  The arrival and near-arrival of several hurricanes and tropical storms also complicated the care of these animals. The appearance of these animals increased the population of cetaceans at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital to nine at one point, which is more than the hospital has ever had at one time. The staff would like to thank all of the volunteers and interns who have given so generously of their time to help with the care of the Stenos.

DWH News

Mayo, a young bottlenose dolphin found stranded in Pinellas County, was transferred to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on August 7, 2004 . Named for cinco de mayo, this dolphin arrived at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital in early May 2004 suffering from severe shark bite wounds, pneumonia, gastrointestinal problems and emaciation.  The dolphin, whose wounds had nearly healed, was being conditioned to catch live fish at the time of his transfer. His transfer was necessary to allow the hospital to accept the critically ill rough toothed dolphins from the east coast.  At last report Mayo was doing well at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Vixen and Moonshine, the two dolphins living in the Rehabilitation Lagoon, are doing quite well.  NOAA Fisheries has determined that both of these animals are not releaseable back to the wild due to ongoing medical conditions requiring treatments.  Their final disposition is yet to be determined.

The Hospital welcomes Seirios Chiu, a veterinarian from Taiwan , who is spending some time at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital learning cetacean and sea turtle medicine.  Dr. Chiu has been getting a lot of hands on experience with the five rough toothed dolphins currently in residence at the hospital..

Caesar II goes Back to the Wild

Caesar II, a large bottlenose dolphin found stranded on Pass-a-grille Beach in Pinellas County in March, was released on June 15, 2004 in the deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico off of Egmont Key. This animal was suffering from pneumonia, and may have been suffering from a secondary infection from an old injury, possibly a wound caused by a stingray barb.  After 85 days of care, Caesar II was fitted with a satellite transmitter so his movements could be monitored post- release.  Caesar II restranded briefly on Manasota Key, but was pushed back out and continued his travels around the Gulf of Mexico. After 24 days of tracking, the signal was lost to Caesar’s transmitter. Data collected from Caesar’s transmitter will be used to further Mote’s knowledge of the range and diving patterns of this species in deeper water.

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital has been extremely busy this summer.  In July we released Pappy, the juvenile green sea turtle that had been living in the Manatee Tank with Hugh and Buffet for several months.  Pappy had arrived at the hospital covered with fibropappiloma tumors.  After several surgeries, including laser surgery to remove tumors from around the turtles eyes, the turtle began the long rehabilitation required before it could be returned to the wild.  After 477 days of care, the turtle was released into the waters off of Turtle Beach , close to where it stranded in 2003.

The hospital has cared for a number of loggerhead sea turtles this summering that arrived suffering from anemia, emaciation, parasites and comatose-like behavior.  Several of these turtles were successfully rehabilitated and returned to the wild.  Boca, a subadult loggerhead that stranded in April, was released July 28, from Lido Beach .  Venus, another subadult loggerhead, was released in September from Casey Key.  Super II, a subadult loggerhead found floating in New Pass, was also released from Lido Beach in July. Sherlock, another subadult, was released in June near Marco Island .  Several other turtles, including an adult female, did not survive.  The hospital is still caring for three loggerheads with similar symptoms.

Gazoo, a juvenile green turtle brought to the hospital in August, was found to be suffering from infections and was inappetent for the first several months of his stay at the hospital.  This turtle has recently started eating on its own.

Mystic, the juvenile Kemp's ridley turtle from the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is on display in the rehabilitation tank and continues to do well.

Sea Turtle Exhibit

The Sea Turtle Exhibit inhabitants continue to do well.  The adult male loggerhead sea turtle that was here on loan from Sea World, Orlando was returned.  Divit was from the same research project at the University of North Carolina that Shelley and Montego came from and may return next year for a visit to continue with the reproductive study.

The Hatchling Hospital has had a fairly busy nesting season.  We have continued with the physical therapy on those hatchlings with flipper constrictions and treating those with ant bites as we have in the past- and have seen great successes with both.  We have also been collecting data to look at reasons for mortality on our beaches.  We have had almost 1000 loggerhead and green sea turtle hatchlings pass through the hospital so far and things are slowing down due to the storms.   We expect our last hatchlings to be released by the last week of October.

Stranding Investigations Program Apr-Oct 2004

The Stranding Program will be offering an “Assessment of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Class,” in March 2005.  The class will cover how to assess whether a manatee, dolphin and/or sea turtle is behaving normally or is sick/injured.  You must have taken the Animal Handler Class and have volunteered in the Dolphin Whale Hospital (DWH) for at least 3 months to be eligible for this stranding class.  Please stay tuned for more information regarding the exact date and time of the class.

Between April 6, 2004 and September 28, 2004, the Stranding Investigations Program (SIP) has been busy responding to reports of stranded dolphins, whales, manatees and sea turtles.   SIP responded to 233 incidents:  94 manatee related, 43 dolphin or whale related and 75 sea turtle related calls.  (The 21 remaining calls regarded birds, sharks, freshwater or terrestrial turtles, alligators, and otters, which are not in SIP’s jurisdiction.).  Efforts during this period resulted in recovery of 7 dead dolphins and rescues of 10 live dolphins (7 of which were from the mass stranding of Steno bredanensis)!  In addition, SIP responded to 25 dead  and 13 live sea turtle strandings.  See below for details.    

Dolphin and Whale Strandings

MML 0407 “Mayo”– This sub-adult bottlenose dolphin stranded live on Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas county on May 3rd.  Clearwater Marine Aquarium responded to this stranding, rescued the dolphin and transported it to Mote Marine Laboratory for rehabilitation.  The dolphin was suffering from multiple rake marks and shark bites over the entire body.  After three months of rehabilitative care at Mote, “Mayo” was transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium so the Dolphin and Whale Hospital could make room for 7 live-stranded Steno bredanensis from a mass stranding of 37 animals on the east coast of FL (see MML 0414 for more details regarding this stranding).

MML 0408 – This stillborn dolphin was rescued from Buttonwood Harbor on May 6th.  This dolphin most likely died as a result of birthing complications.

MML 0409 – This dead bottlenose dolphin was found floating in the Myakka River on May 11th.  Cause of death (found at necropsy), was due to a catfish spine perforation of the stomach, diaphragm and left lung, resulting in pyothorax and bacterial pneumonia.

MML 0410 – On May 30th, this adult Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) stranded live on the Gulfside of Holmes Beach around 0930 hrs, but was pushed back into the water twice by beachgoers (Figure 1).  The dolphin re-stranded on Anna Maria Island around 1300 hrs.  MML staff and volunteers responded, but the dolphin died during transport to MML for rehabilitation.  Necropsy results showed inflammation of the brain and kidneys.

Figure 1.  MML 0410, Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

MML 0411 – This adult bottlenose dolphin was found dead June 13th on Ft. Myers Beach.   The carcass was transported by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to MML for necropsy.  Necropsy revealed the cause of death to be an obstruction of the airway as a result of  a snook lodged in the dolphin’s esophagus.

MML 0412 – This dead adult bottlenose dolphin was a known resident of Sarasota Bay, found floating by a fisherman on July 2nd.  The carcass was towed to MML, and then was taken to the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory in St. Petersburg for necropsy.  Histopathology results indicated congestion of the lungs and possible heart failure.

MML 0413 – On August 3rd, another known Sarasota Bay dolphin was found on Bradenton Beach.   Necropsy findings included perforation of the body cavity by a foreign body (possibly a stingray barb), in addition to other related complications.

MML 0414A-G “The Seven Dwarfs”– These seven rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) were part of a mass-stranding of 37 dolphins on Hutchinson Island (east coast Florida ) on August 6th, and were transported by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution to Mote for rehabilitation on August 9th.  Five are still undergoing rehabilitative care at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital .  For current information, see www.mote.org for continuing care of these dolphins and necropsy findings for the two deceased dolphins.

MML 0415 – This decomposed bottlenose dolphin carcass was found on Pineland on August 23rd, after Hurricane Charley swept through the Charlotte Harbor area.   SIP and FWC staff kayaked to this dolphin to perform a field necropsy and obtain samples.  Though cause of death remains unknown, the dolphin was identified as a known Charlotte Harbor animal.

MML 0416 – This known bottlenose dolphin stranded on September 12th in Lemon Bay .  Necropsy findings included severe emaciation and pneumonia secondary to a stingray barb perforation of the left lung.

MML 0417 – This live neonate bottlenose dolphin stranded as a result of Hurricane Jeanne on September 27th (possibly the evening of the 26th, as noted by reporting FHP officer).  The dolphin had been washed over the seawall and onto the concrete at the entrance to the North Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier.  SIP and FWC staff responded and SIP transported dolphin to MML.  Due to lack of space, the dolphin was stabilized and then transferred by airplane to Miami (Marine Animal Rescue Society) in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, the dolphin died five minutes before reaching the destination.  Necropsy findings are not yet available.

Sea Turtle Strandings

Stranding categories for 38 sea turtles were as follows:

Cause of Death Category-Sea Turtles

Number of Animals

Live stranded

13

Not examined or undetermined due to advanced decomposition

14

Fisheries interactions-boat strikes, entanglements

2

Natural Causes (including emaciation, bacterial disease, GI perforations)

9

 Total

38

Manatee Exhibit

Hugh and Buffett are currently in the final stages of testing for the vibrissae tactile sensitivity study.  Results to date suggest that the manatee might be the most tactilely sensitive marine mammal.  Both manatees are progressing well in training for a sound localization study.  These research projects are being conducted to increase our knowledge about the manatee’s sensory processes and assist in conservation efforts for the wild population.  Hugh and Buffett made it through Florida’s four hurricanes unscathed and even had a brief visit to Disney’s Living Seas.