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The Dolphin and Whale Hospital was erected in 1994 as a part of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Center. |
| The Hospital includes two 50,000 gallon medical tanks (30 feet in diameter and 9 feet deep), one 200,000 gallon lagoon (50 feet wide by 120 feet long by 10 feet deep – the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Marine Mammal Lagoon), as well as a well-equipped veterinary laboratory, food-prep kitchen, and animal care office. |
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The veterinary laboratory is equipped for radiography (x-rays), endoscopy, ultrasonography, minor surgery, and a wide range of laboratory tests. |
| The medical tanks serve as acute care tanks where sick dolphins and whales are first placed upon arrival at the Hospital. While in the medical tanks, the animals receive around-the-clock care and observation, much the same as in an intensive care ward of a human hospital. The medical tanks are supplied with seawater from Sarasota Bay that is filtered, chlorinated or ozonated, and heated and/or chilled. |
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| Often, as the animals improve, they will be moved into the lagoon to provide them with more space to allow them to swim more to regain their strength and muscle tone. |
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