| Date |
2005-03-02 |
| Location |
United States, Florida, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Key Vaca, Marathon |
| Species |
Rough-toothed dolphin |
| Number |
74* |
| Stranded Alive |
Yes |
| Behavior if alive |
See Notes |
| Notes |
* Finite numbers vary according to source, and are hard to pinpoint due to the dynamic nature of the rescue effort and the number of dolphins involved. The 74 figure was chosen because it was more detailed than many others: "At least 20 of the dolphins managed to make it out to sea within a day of the incident. But at least 28 in poor condition or pain were subsequently euthanized or perished on their own. Researchers and volunteers are still trying to nurse back to health 26 rough-toothed dolphins that survived" (Babson). Estimates on the number of stranded dolphins range from 70 to 110 (Myers). One article from March 3 says "so far, the count stands at 96" (WFTV9).
"The dolphins were mostly adult females and young." (Myers)
"On Saturday, 26 of the dolphins were transported to the Marine Mammal Conservancy rehabilitation site in Key Largo. 'The loading-in was stressful, but most aspects of the transport went pretty smoothly,' the Conservancy said.
"At the rehab site, some of the dolphins require support to keep their blowholes out of the water, but many are able to swim freely without physical support, said the Conservancy. For those that are able to support themselves, volunteers stand by in case support becomes necessary. Feeding includes tubing with fluids - pedialyte and water - as well as fish.
"On Friday, the Marine Animal Rescue Society transported a nine foot male and an eight foot female to its critical care facility at the University of Miami on Key Biscayne.
"Four others were taken to Mote's Center for Shark Research satellite location in Summerland Key. This brings the total of succesfully rescued dolphins to 32, the Conservancy said.
"Rescue efforts continue [as of March 8] in an attempt to save the remaining survivors. NOAA Fisheries reports that dolphins are still being spotted off Marathon, and has requested assistance from the Conservancy with additional dolphins stranding. Some of these dolphins have been observed simply to be swimming close to shore, but authorities are watching for signs of stranding." (ENS)
"At the Mote Marine Laboratory on Summerland Key, about 25 miles east of Key West, an adult female dolphin -- nurtured by another dolphin behaving as a labour coach and wetsuit-clad volunteers who hydrated the creatures -- struggled more than 12 hours on Monday to deliver a stillborn calf.
"Two other dolphins delivered stillborn babies in Key Largo and another aborted a near-term fetus at a facility on Key Biscayne, near Miami". (Myers)
As per the analysis of the deceased dolphins, NOAA originally reported on March 4 that "a mysterious infection is to blame for the" strandings (NBC6). According a later report, "'There's no smoking gun,' said Alex Costidis, a Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute biologist in St. Petersburg, Florida. 'They all had empty stomachs, which is pretty typical of a stranding, indicating they had not eaten in the last two or three days'" (Myers).
"[Greg] Bossart [Harbor Branch's director of marine mammal research and conservation] said the dolphins — including a calf that was aborted — all were markedly underweight." (tcpalm) |
| Ref |
Babson, J. (2005, March 8). Dolphins stranded on day of sub mission. The Miami Herald. Retrieved March 15, 2005, from http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11077186.htm
Environment News Service. (2005, March 8). Sonar Suspected in Florida Keys Dolphin Stranding. Retrieved March 13, 2005, from http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-08-09.asp#anchor3
Myers, L. (2005, March 8). Few clues on Florida dolphin deaths. Reuters. Retrieved March 13, 2005, from http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-03-08T010116Z_01_HOL803394_RTRUKOC_0_ENVIRONMENT-DOLPHINS.xml
NBC6 South Florida. (2005, March 5). NOAA: Infection To Blame For Beached Dolphins. Retrieved March 13, 2005, from http://www.nbc6.net/news/4254958/detail.html
TCPalm.com. (2005, March 9). Scientists study dolphin stranding. Retrieved March 13, 2005, from http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_3605613,00.html
WFTV9. (2005, March 3). Rescuers Say 96 Dolphins Stranded In Florida. Retrieved March 13, 2005 from http://www.wftv.com/news/4250855/detail.html |
| Last Updated |
2005-03-21 |
| ID |
212 |