Rescue & Rehab
Whale Stranding!
Sunday, August 10th - Five Pilot Whales are Swimming Free!
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After almost four months of rehabilitation, the five pilot
whales were successfully released back to the wild on Sunday,
August 10th! This was the longest rehabilitation/release effort
by MMC in history; the longest back in 1995 which lasted 65
days.
The release efforts started at 5:30am on Sunday, August 10th.
Each whale was lifted from the swimming hold onto a vessel
retrieval boat, provided by the Coast Guard. Each animal was
tagged before release for tracking efforts.
The whales were released approximately 15 miles in the Atlantic.
All were doing well immediately afterwards; spotted swimming
and playing.
THANK YOU to all who have shown support. From volunteering,
to donations, to those who just simply brought us food during
long volunteer shifts! Our thanks continues
below....
There are new t-shirts and also a five minute video available
for purchase, and soon to be on in our giftstore. You may
pre-order as well, by emailing info@marinemammalconsv.org.
They are available for a $20 donation.
Initial Stranding Info:
The initial mass stranding happened on April 18th on Big Pine
Key. MMC participated with the Marine Animal Rescue Society
(MARS, Miami: 305-546-1111) and the Marine Mammal Rescue Team
(MMRT, Key West) in the mass stranding of pilot whales at
Big Pine Key.
It was a tough stranding situation. Very far back in the shallows,
extreme low moon tide, rapid tidal change and flow, lots of
whales, no shade, and transport was difficult! 10 were released
into deeper water, others were "lost" due to the
re-stranding, time restraints, and conditions. |
History of Rehabilitation & Release:
8/15/03
As of Tuesday afternoon the whales had split up. #’s 4 and
6 were heading towards Ft. Lauderdale and are now north of there
and are no longer being tracked via VHF, but now only by GPS.
Number 3 has headed East, and out to sea, while Number 7 is still
in the vicinity of the release and presumed alone. #2 has not been
able to be tracked due to her tagging device, therefore her location
is unknown.
Jeff Foster and other trackers have left this afternoon to fly
over the release vicinity in an effort to locate number 7.
8/12/03
As of 4 pm Monday trackers were receiving VHF hits on 4 of the
5 whales. The pod remained near the vicinity of the release location,
and were diving for longer periods of time.
“ We think all the whales are together”, said tracker
Jeff Foster.
7/30/03
Final bloodwork and exams were performed today on all whales,
and all came out well. During a final gender check, we realized
that #4 is actually a girl and our calf (#7) is actually a male!
A release date has been approved by the National Marine Fishery
Services via a vessel retreival boat, provided by the Coast Guard.
Release date is scheduled for August 9th; weather permitting.
Please consider donating to help us receive the a $10,000 matching
grant to help us in our release! Deadline for the gifting donor
is August 4th. Click here to donate through our paypal system (please
consider a straight donation versus a t-shirt donation to save additional
money to go towards our release!).
7/10/03
The two rescue foundations, Marine Mammal Rescue Team and Marine
Mammal Conservancy, have submitted to NMFS both a Letter of Intent
to Release, and an Application for Release, which outlines a history
on each whale, present medical, physical, and psychological condition,
tentative release plan, and back-up plans. A tentative date of July
22nd has been set for release.
The release plan (which is under debate) will be determined by
NMFS. The two options being reviewed are:
1. transport via a vessel (out of the water),
2. transport via a seapen (in the water).
The second item under review and investigation is the decision
whether or not to release #7, and if the decision to release her
is made what the protocol shall be.
Meanwhile, all animals are being fed by volunteers throwing fish
within a 30 degree radius of the animals heads in order to "re-instill"
a hunting nature. #7 has been taken off of formula and is receiving
approximately 22 pounds of fish daily which is being increased by
one pound per day to replace the formula's kilocalories.
The introduction of live fish is in near future plans as a preparation
for release.
6/20/03
All animals are progressing and showing positive signs of good
health. Blood was taken from Number 7 yesterday, and the plans are
to take blood from 3 today. Number 3 is back at it again, as she
fluked a couple of people, and chased the rest of the pod away.
Feedings still are an evolving event which occurs three times a
day: 7am, 1 pm, and 7 pm. Number 7 is still receiving formula and
is eating 16.5 pounds of fish per feeding. Number 2 still does a
"drive-by" feeding where she takes a few fish at a time
and attempts to "herd" the others back out. Number 4 seems
the most interested in staying in the feeding station for his dinner,
while the others take turns "calling a conference" and
interrupting the session. All in all, each animal is finishing with
a full belly consisting of capelin, smelt, and herring.Most sessions
end with the pod returning to receive love touches from all of the
feeders and assistants.
6/13/03
All animals are officially off of their antibiotics, feeding well,
and awaiting another round of taking blood to determine whether
or not they are healthy enough for release.
The "fearsome foursome" as #'s 2,4,6,& 7 are dubbed
are playing, and interacting well with each other. #3 still chooses
to isolate herself from the rest of the pod, but is more tolerant
of others close proximity.
#7, the youngest juvenile is extremely active lately and in "training"
for being the boss. For the last few days #2 has been herding the
group out of feedings, while #7 is leading the group in. Tubing
#7 is increasingly more difficult as she is becoming more and more
active and forcing her feeders to feed/tube her "on the fly."
6/04/03
#3 is showing remarkable progress. Today after the afternoon feeding
she was extremely active playing on her boom, and coming approximately
6 feet vertically up from the water.
Blood was successfully taken from number 7 today after "wrangling"
her into the stretcher. All of the animals are accepting meals and
showing signs of improvement on a daily basis. Each feeding is an
exciting event as the dominant animal seems to change. Number 6
seems to be mostly in control now, with the baby leading into the
feeding and occasionally "rodeo-ing" the group back out
again. Number 4 is being the most cooperative, and has now been
confirmed as a male. Number 2 is also being cooperative in feedings,
generally likes to feed with #4, and the baby likes to be near by
them both.
Night sessions, following the 7PM feeding are now completely hands-off,
with no people in the water at all. Assistants are standing by,
and observing/"guarding" in the event that an animal gets
itself into any problem.
Release is being discussed, and will be dependent on obtaing bloodwork
to confirm their continued improvement.
5/22/03
Five of the original seven whales are still with us; #5 died in
the beginning, and #1 about a week and a half ago. Other animals
are are continuing to show improvement, with #3 lagging behind slightly.
The baby is beginning to find her spot in the group now, and things
are going well.
Rick Trout received a broken rib recently from whale #2 “fluking”
him while blood was being taken.
New pens for feeding that were constructed are now being swam under
and avoided by all of the animals. The 5 whales are free swimming
most of the time and spending longer periods, and distances underwater.
In addition to the 5 pilot whales, rescue groups have stabilized
and are now rehabilitating a young Stenella Dolphin at the Keys
Marine Lab in Layton, since a recent stranding.
5/19/03
Last weekend Dr. Mike Walsh a veterinarian with Sea World visited
the whales, as did Dr. Doug Mader a Marathon veterinarian. Although
all whales are showing signs of improvement, all are on medication
and vitamins still. In order for the whales to be considered for
release into the open ocean they must be off of medication for two
weeks.
#3 is still showing signs of scoliosis, and receiving daily massage
and physical therapy. In addition, her blood test results show that
she has been exposed to the Morbillivirus which can be fatal in
marine mammals.
In addition, all of the whales were weighed on Sunday and their
weights ranged from 320-792 pounds. Weights are obtained in order
to determine proper medication amounts and nutrition needs.
5/2/03
On Thursday afternoon, whale #1 could not fight illness any longer,
and expired peacefully at 6PM. The remaining 5 whales are doing
well in their new environment. The babies are doing exceptionally
well and showing the greatest improvement.
4/28/03
No new information on the whales, but we have a new stranding event
in progress as of Monday afternoon. The animal is a pantropical
spotted dolphin (stennella attenuata). The Marine Animal Rescue
Society is starting rehabilitation with some support from MMC at
the Key's Marine Lab on Long Key. More info to come as we know it.....
4/27/03
On Sunday all seven pilot whales were successfully relocated to
a deeper and larger location. The two babies were transported via
a moving truck, and the other 4 larger whales (#1,2,3,&4) were
transported one at a time by a trailered inflatable boat with no
transom. The new location is an Oceanside lagoon dubbed “the
swimming hole” by the locals. The “swimming hole”
ranges in depth from 10-40ft and is adjacent to a major waterway
leading to the ocean (which will make an eventual release much less
complicated and stressful).
Number #1 is dehydrated and now receiving extra fluids between
meals. #3 still has to be kept separate from the group as does #1.
All of the animals are more active and aggressively feeding on a
diet of capelin with the exception of the babies who are still receiving
baby formula.
Volunteers are still needed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In-water
assistants will need fins and a flotation device (we will be able
to provide some of these), and a wetsuit.
The volunteer information and donation telephone number is: (305)
451-4774.
Thank You!
Many thanks to ALL of the good people of Big Pine Key for so much
support and generosity. These folks have literally opened their
homes and hearts to the whales and the effort in general in every
possible way that they could. Also special thanks to the Publix,
Winn Dixie and Trading Post stores of the Keys, Strike Zone Charters,
Tow-Boat USA Big Pine Key Florida, and all of the other businesses
small and large that are making a difference in this rehabilitation
effort for 6 pilot whales and now a young spotted dolphin.
Also, many thanks to GlaxoSmithKline, for their generous donation
of the well known consumer product Tums (tm). This product has been
critical in the treatment of our stranded whales. Tums is GSK's
largest gastrointestinal brand, and as we now know, proves as an
effective and trusted remedy aiding in the digestion of our whales.
Since it is a pure and natural source of calcium, it has been identified
by our veterinarians and biologists as an balancing agent for acid
in the tummy's of our POD (human and finned alike). Little did it's
inventor know, (Jim Howe of St. Louis, Missouri) his invention would
gain notoriety to help with a "Whale of a Tummy Ache"
Without all of your support, this stranding would be much more
difficult. And, a lot of credit goes to all of the organizations
that have been overwhelmed with stranding events this year (2003)
including the Marine Mammal Rescue Team from Key West, the Marine
Mammal Conservancy from Key Largo and the Marine Animal Rescue Society
from North Miami. The community of Big Pine Key Florida has been
fantastic Until we can say a proper thank you to each, the least
we can do is mention these businesses and volunteers on our website.
We STILL are in need of donations to help recoup the
release cost, and to raise $250,000 for our
Dolphin Rescue Hospital!
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