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! ( Back to Top)

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