Marine Mammal Conservancy

Staff & Qualified Volunteer CPR Class

Alex — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:08:24 +0000

On Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 members of the Key Largo Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be hosting a class specifically for us! MMC Staff & Qualified Volunteers are invited to attend a CPR and First Aid Course at a very discounted price! The class has limited spots available so please contact Alex@MarineMammalConservancy.org for more information and to secure your spot.

MMC Trains FIU Students in Stranding Response

Alex — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:40:09 +0000

On Saturday, August 14th the Marine Mammal Conservancy hosted a course at Florida International University’s campus. Students from the Marine Biology Club participated in a four hour long course detailing the logistics of responding to stranded marine mammals. Students engaged in interactive demonstrations on basic handling of marine mammals, learned how to medically evaluate and monitor marine mammals, and participated in a mock transport of a marine mammal. We are currently planning an additional course in the coming month to continue training more FIU students in stranding response and rehabilitation.

MMC is excited to welcome FIU’s Marine Biology Club into our volunteer family!

MMC & The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Alex — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:24:08 +0000

Since the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on April 20th, the Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC) has been working closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other responding agencies to monitor the situation. MMC was placed on stand-by, awaiting deployment if needed. Since that time, MMC’s staff members have been undergoing trainings specific to the oil spill. Due to our location and a number of other factors, MMC will be the primary organization able to take in, care for and rehabilitate any marine mammals that strand in the South Florida area, as well as perform any necropsies on deceased animals.

Oil spills can have both short-term and long-term effects on marine mammals. Externally, oil and other chemicals can cause irritation to the animal’s eyes and mouth, increasing the chances for secondary infections. On baleen whales, oil can foul the baleen, limiting the animal’s ability to feed. Baleen serves as a filtering structure in the mouths of certain whales which they use to sieve out small animals from large mouthfuls of seawater. Internally, the inhalation of oil and other chemicals can cause mild to severe respiratory infections, while the consumption of fouled foods can contribute to gastrointestinal infections, ulcers, bleeding, and diarrhea. The absorption of the inhaled and ingested chemicals can cause liver and kidney damage, possibly leading to anemia and immune suppression, as well as damage to the reproductive systems.

If you’re interested in helping with any strandings, please sign up for our mailing list. Additionally, MMC is currently offering several training classes designed to help prepare our volunteers for stranding events (http://marinemammalconservancy.org/upcoming-events/scheduled-training-courses). Even with no animals currently requiring aid, there are plenty of projects underway that need volunteer assistance. MMC always needs help with on-site projects and fundraising opportunities. If you’re interested in helping, please contact us at Info@MarineMammalConservancy.org. For fundraising, please contact Kathy@MarineMammalConservancy.org.

Keys Marine Experts Prepare for Oil

Alex — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:26:04 +0000

View the entire PDF version of the article.

Work Day – June 13th

Alex — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:14:29 +0000

Join us on Sunday, June 13, 2010 for a Work Day at 9:00AM. We will be getting together at the MMC site to clean and organize – any and all help is appreciated!!

Dolphins in Distress @ Cinematheque

Alex — Sat, 08 May 2010 17:50:14 +0000

“Dolphins in Distress” Film

Presented by the Marine Mammal Conservancy

Tuesday, May 11 @ 8pm

On March 2nd, 2005 over 80 rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) stranded themselves on the sand flats off of Marathon, Florida with little hope of survival. Some were able to maneuver back into deep water, but many more were sick, trapped, dehydrated, and beaten by the surf. The Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC), along with help from other local agencies, responded to the animals in distress with darkness approaching. Dolphins in Distress is a documentary that chronicles the rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release of the survivors of this mass stranding event.

This film was made by Bob Care exclusively for the Marine Mammal Conservancy. © BC Productions

MBC Member – $7.00 with or without Non Member Guest(s)
MBC Member – $7.00 with MBC Member Guest(s)
MIFF Member – $7.00 (with code)
Non-Member – $10.00 (become a member and get a discount!)
Senior – $8.00 (62 and over)
Student – $8.00 (with current ID)

Visit the Miami Beach Film Society website for more information.

We need your help!

Alex — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:10:40 +0000

Dear Marine Mammal Conservancy family,

We need your testimony. Help tell our story. Think back to the first time you visited an aquarium or marine mammal facility, better yet, the first time you visited MMC, or helped with a rehab or release. You fell in love with the animals. You embraced the conservation philosophy and were inspired to share your increased knowledge about the marine environment and conservation issues with your students, family, friends, co-workers and other people.

People who oppose dolphins and other marine mammals living in human care are now attacking marine mammal facilities like Dolphins Plus/Dolphins Cove and even Marine Mammal Conservancy. They claim that our programs have no educational value, no conservation impact and that the government needs to adopt stricter regulations and oversight. They’ve influenced the United States Congress. Now the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife has scheduled an oversight hearing on April 27, 2010, to hear testimony.

Marine Mammal Conservancy, as well as numerous other marine mammal facilities, including the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums believe that we not only educate our visitors, volunteers and even staff , we also empower them to share and act on this knowledge for the good of all marine mammals and the environment.

We need your help. Would you please take a few moments to write about your experience of Marine Mammal Conservancy and the work in which you have seen and/or taken part. Share how the educational programs and information made a positive difference in your life and those around you. We are collecting emails and letters to provide to representatives from marine mammal facilities and the AMMPA who will testify at the hearing in less than two weeks!

Due to the short time period, email is preferred. You may email your letters to us at: sara@marinemammalconservancy.org . You can also send it via regular mail to attention Congressional Hearing at Marine Mammal Conservancy, PO Box 1625 Key Largo FL 33037.

OR take the extra step! We have provided a list of subcommittee members. Please pick up the phone, outraged telephone calls, the direct human element, can be even more effective. If you live in the district of one of these members of the House, would you please also write to them directly? (Many only accept letters from people who live in their district.)

Help us tell our story.

Thank you in advance.

The Marine Mammal Conservancy Board of Directors

House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife: Committee Membership

Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) [Chair] http://www.house.gov/bordallo/contact.shtml
Dale E. Kildee (D-MI)  http://www.house.gov/kildee/contact_form.shtml
Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D-AS) faleomavaega@mail.house.gov
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml
Gregorio Camacho (Kilili) Sablan (I-MP) kilili@mail.house.gov
Donna M. Christensen (D-VI)  https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Diana DeGette (D-CO)  http://www.house.gov/formdegette/dcs_zip_auth_v2.shtml
Ron Kind (D-WI)  http://www.kind.house.gov
Lois Capps (D-CA)  http://capps.house.gov/send-an-email.shtml
Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)  http://forms.house.gov/shea-porter/webform/issue_subscribe.htm
Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD)  http://kratovil.house.gov
Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR) http://pierluisi.house.gov/english/contact-us.html
Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) http://brown.house.gov/Contact/writebrown.html
Don Young (R-AK) https://donyoung.house.gov/Contact/default.aspx
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)  https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Doug Lamborn (R-CO) http://lamborn.house.gov
Rob Wittman (R-VA) https://forms.house.gov/wittman/IMA/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
John Fleming (R-LA)  http://fleming.house.gov
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)  https://forms.house.gov/chaffetz/contact-form.shtml
Bill Cassidy (R-LA) http://cassidy.house.gov

4th Annual 5K Run/Walk and Introducing the 1st Annual 5K Dog Walk!

Alex — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:07:16 +0000

It’s that time of the year again! It’s our 4th Annual 5K Run/Walk, and this year, we’re adding the 1st Annual 5K Dog Walk! We had 75 participants last year, and we’re hoping to double that number! The race fee is $25 if you pre-register, or $30 on the day of the event. Your fee includes a t-shirt and goody bag, and all the profits go towards saving marine mammals. Because we’re a non-profit, your race fee is also tax-deductible!

We’ll also be providing discounts for Groups/Teams of people this year. A “Group” or “Team” must consist of 5 or more individuals. The Group will receive a discount of $5 per person (race fee of $20 per person), but must submit all paperwork together, as well as make a single payment (either by check or via PayPal). So go ahead and get your friends, your coworkers, and your family together and make your own team!

For the 5K Dog Walk – That’s right! This year we’re including a dog walk as part of our 5K activities. All normal fees apply, plus an additional $5 per dog. But Fido will get his own goody bag with special treats as well! There’s a separate registration form for this event. If you’re planning on participating in the 5K Run, don’t worry! You can do both for just the additional dog fee. The 5K Dog Walk will be in a separate time slot to prevent dog leashes from becoming a hazard to runners. All dogs must be well-behaved and on 6-foot or less hand-held leashes. No retractable leashes per the Park’s policy.Want to help us raise more money for our cause? Ask your friends and family members to sponsor you! We’ll have prizes for the people with the largest amounts of money raised! This really is the best way to support our cause! We’ll also have “MMC Thank You’s” that you can email to your sponsors.

Date: Saturday, April 24th

Place: Dagny Johnson State Park, Key Largo

Schedule: 8:00am Registration

8:30am Runners start

8:45am Walkers start

9:15am 1st Annual 5K Dog Walk

Please download all applicable forms below:

Group Registration Form P1

Group Registration Form P2

Individual Registration Form

Dog Walk Registration Form

2010 Registration Packet

Pledge Form

And lastly, don’t forget to follow us on Face Book! We’ll be posting our race photos on there this year, and we invite you to do the same!

Please contact tricia@marinemammalconservancy.org or anne@marinemammalconservancy.org for more information.

Art Auction and Wine and Cheese Reception to Benefit MMC – March 19, 2010 at the Key Largo Conch House Restaurant (MM 100.2)

Kathy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:58:04 +0000

Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception and Art Auction on Friday, March 19, at the beautiful Key Largo Conch House Restaurant. The art auction will feature a broad range of marine themed art of local Keys artists. Join us for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to acquire a special work of art. The proceeds of the event will benefit the Marine Mammal Conservancy’s rescue and rehabilitation work with dolphins and whales. The reception and art preview will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event hours are 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Key Largo Conch House Restaurant is located at Mile Marker 100.2 on the Ocean Side. You can download an MMC Art Auction poster here.

For more information, contact kathy@marinemammalconservancy.org.

MMC Fourth Annual Golf Tournament Postponed to May 2nd!

Kathy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:44:21 +0000

Enjoy a great day of good food, golf, and fun on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at Marine Mammal Conservancy’s Fourth Annual Annual Golf Tournament at the Keys Gate Golf Course in Homestead, Florida. The event will start off with lunch at 11:45 followed by a 1:00 tee time! The winning foursome will receive a dinner for 8 at the spectacular CJ’s Crab Shack on South Beach.

Contact: Bob Christian (305)389-3133