Media Contact: Brenda Bush

MARINE MAMMAL CONSERVANCY

brenda@marinemammalconsv.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MMC Releasing Two Nurse Sharks

Key Largo, April 11, 2003 --- The Marine Mammal Conservancy is once again in the “shark shipping”, and releasing business. On Saturday April 12^th, the Marine Mammal Conservancy will be receiving 2 Nurse sharks: Norma @ 5’4”, and Nelly @ 4’10”, from the McWane Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

The McWane Center obtained the sharks 21/2 years ago when they were 18-20 inches long. Now that the creatures have grown much larger, the decision was made to take humane actions, and release them back into their natural habitat.

After a minimum 24 hour waiting period, the sharks will be released by MMC volunteers working with Captain Slate of Atlantis Dive, on “The City of Washington” wreck in Key Largo. This site is a great location because it is visited weekly by dive shops, and all other releases have also occurred here to provide a little “nurse shark haven”.

During the 24 hour waiting period the sharks will be acclimated slowly to current water temperatures and salinity levels, examined by a veterinarian, fed, and observed for survival skills prior to release on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

Websites to visit:

www.marinemammalconsv.org

www.mcwane.org/sharks.htm

The Marine Mammal Conservancy is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization serving marine mammals since 1990. MMC operates in Key Largo, Florida, with the Marine Mammal Rescue Foundation as the first line of response for rescue and rehabilitation in the Keys and South Florida Area.

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