Katrina Rescue Effort Begins for Dolphins

[Guest guest]

[it's amazing that with all the money these parks make

exploiting these animals, they didn't even bother

evacuating them before the storm hit. Now they're

going to look like heroes rescuing them. A sick spin

job if I've ever seen one. Rick.]

 

 

 

Katrina Rescue Effort Begins for Dolphins

 

By HOLBROOK MOHR, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 32

minutes ago

 

JACKSON, Miss. - Scientists are trying to rescue eight

dolphins that were swept out of their aquarium tanks

by Hurricane Katrina and have been spotted in the Gulf

of Mexico.

 

 

The dolphins were spotted while swimming near the Port

of Gulfport on Saturday by scientists from the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

conducting an aerial survey to assess hurricane

damages to natural resources, the agency said.

 

Dolphin trainers planned to join the scientists on a

rescue mission in the gulf Thursday.

 

Because the dolphins have spent much of their lives in

captivity, they may not have developed the survival

skills necessary to avoid predators and boat traffic,

the scientists said.

 

The dolphins' home had been a 30-foot high tank at

Gulfport's nearly 50-year-old Marine Life Oceanarium,

which had survived Hurricane Camille but was destroyed

by Katrina.

 

Three of eight dolphins were born at the aquarium,

said Moby Solangi, the aquarium's owner.

 

" Once we realized the dolphins had been swept out to

sea during the hurricane, we feared that they had

died, " Solangi said. " We are just thrilled that they

have stayed together during the past couple of weeks. "

 

They have already been feeding the dolphins several

times a day but the mammals appear to be significantly

underweight and have severe to minor wounds, said Teri

Rowles, lead veterinarian for NOAA's Fisheries

Service.

 

NOAA spokeswoman Kim Amendola said two methods can be

used to catch the dolphins.

 

" Some of the dolphins are trained so they're trying to

get those dolphins to swim up onto mats, " she said.

" If that is not successful, they may have to use a

net. "

 

Once rescued, the dolphins will be taken to nearby

saltwater pools provided by the Navy for medical

evaluation and treatment, Rowles said.

 

Before Katrina struck, some of the younger dolphins

from the aquarium were moved inland to hotel swimming

pools and were not threatened by the storm. They have

since been moved to aquariums in Florida.

 

Nineteen sea lions also were missing from the

Oceanarium.

 

One of those, Andre, a 250-pound sea lion, has found a

temporary home at the Memphis Zoo.

 

The storm washed him from his pen and he wandered for

11 days before he was discovered behind a casino and

shipped to Memphis.

 

Andre lost about 100 pounds but specialists said he's

in good shape.

 

 

 

 

 

Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005