K. Dundorf’s story with Kokomo, the pygmy sperm whale (Feb 2003)

11/19/03: Kokomo through the eyes of K. Dundorf

Following my dream to swim with the dolphins, I had another life altering experience. Several people mentioned that Dolphins Plus in Key Largo was THE place to go because of their care and commitment to the animals. Off I headed in my new 1984 VW Vanagon. Sleeping in the van along the way, I was eager to participate in the half hour “unstructured swim”. Along with about 8 other people, we entered the water with our snorkel gear on. The 3 dolphins in our pen seemed to be ignoring us. It was up to them to initiate any contact. After a bit, I noticed dolphins along the fence in the next pen. They seemed to be watching us. Within moments, I was swimming back and forth along the fence with a young bottlenose dolphin named Cosmo. His folks (LB and Dinghy) watched on protectively and occasionally joined in the fun. It was great being so close, looking in his eyes, having him look back and swimming together despite my urge to jump over the fence that separated us.

After that short time in the heat, humidity and sun, everything in me felt wilted. My only thought was getting north to a cooler climate and even the blizzard of 2003 sounded better. Hearing about a stranded whale that was being cared for in Key Largo , I figured I could stop by the Marine Mammal Conservancy for a few minutes on the way out of town.

The care and commitment of everyone there inspired me. I wanted to help too, so I stayed. Art Cooper, one of the supervisors, cheerfully explained that people needed to be in the water with him all the time. Eagerly I put on a wet suit and spend a 4-hour shift in the water with this whale named Kokomo . There were 3 or 4 people around him to keep him wet and safe. While at the head, the job was keeping my body between him and the edge of the pen, and away from the dock or sharp rocks in the shallow areas. When he got too close, I would push him back. What an amazing thing to push around a 1200 pound whale.

The Center for the Marine Mammal Conservancy is still under construction, so it was a huge effort to organize this recovery project. Tables, record books, volunteer sign up sheets, info about MMC, cell phones and chairs for supervisors filled one tent. A supply of water and food for the all-volunteer team filled another. Food and medical supplies for Kokomo were in The Fish Truck. The outdoor shower ran hot or cold depending on the time of day. The lovely portable toilet added to the camp atmosphere.

Despite the heat, I stayed and helped in any way I could. There were fish to peel for the protein drink which Kokomo received several times a day. Feeding time required extra hands for pouring the drink and medication in a funnel that went into a tube inserted down his throat. After this he was treated to some squid. His vitals and progress were recorded in the logbooks. Being in the water with Kokomo was fun but there were so many other things needing to be done to help that I stayed another day and another and another.

Hundreds of spectators stopped by. The residents in the area, and vacationers from around the country wanted to see the whale. Hearing all about the project they would often volunteer. After a few days of listening to the supervisors talk to the many spectators, I found I could answer many of the questions also. This was an older Pygmy Sperm Whale that was found by the Coast Guard on January 22nd . He was sick (dehydrated, pneumonia and parasites) and injured probably by a spear. Due to the cold weather then, the Marine Mammal Conservancy transported him to the only heated salt water pool on the Keys. After he stabilized he was moved to the salt-water lagoon on Key Largo’s bay side, at the MMC.

Scheduling volunteers around the clock was a challenge, especially the night shifts. I liked the 7-11pm or 3-7am shifts since it kept me out of the brutal sun. A lovely benefit was the beautiful sunset and sunrises along with the silvery shimmer of the full moon on the lagoon. Without all the spectators and visitors, this time had a calming peace.and a soothing quiet.

Being an artist, I spend a lot of time drawing and painting Kokomo. He has a split dorsal fin probably from an earlier injury. This unique feature would enable anyone to instantly recognize him in the wild, even without a tag. One piece of art, “Feeding Time” seemed to capture the essence of Kokomo and the volunteers. It was so satisfying to see people moved by this piece and wanting prints of the artwork.

Wednesday morning February 26th I was in the water again. This time it was at 11am and I had the best time with Kokomo. He had a rough night before with the pneumonia acting up. When I got in the water he started swimming around more. This seemed to be a good sign. With swim goggles, I was able to look at him eye to eye under the water. It was even fun when he bobbed me under the water, as he attempted to keep his fragile skin wet. A roll of underwater film captured this special time swimming together, holding him, playing and keeping him safe. We even held the umbrella over him to prevent sunburn. Throughout the day he was rolling a lot more, probably because of the pneumonia, but it gave us some wonder-filled views of his eyes, fins and light belly.

After a full day of helping, I was ready for a full night of sleep (in my van nearby). It was shocking to get woken in the middle of the night. Kokomo has just died at 12:15 am. Filled with sadness, I joined the handful of people at the site. Kokomo was kept cool with ice, until he would be transported in the morning for the necropsy (autopsy on animals) to determine the cause of death. The generator that noisily provided light and electricity was turned off. There was a quiet reverence in the dark of night. People finished packing up the site. The grief was thick in the air and it was hard to deal with the overflowing feelings. I lit a candle and walked it down to the dock where just hours ago we had fed Kokomo. The flickering light and the smell of the citronella candle surrounded me as I mirrored the unusual stillness of the water. In a moment of awe, I noticed 5 birds in flight overhead like a military funeral. It felt like the birds were escorting Kokomo’s spirit off to the great beyond.

So much was learned during this recovery effort that will help in the future. Hundred and hundreds of volunteer worked to help Kokomo. I estimated that during the 36 days he was with us, over 4,000 hours were volunteered. Hundred’s more stopped by to see him. In such a short time he impacted so many lives. We are richer because of this experience. If I knew how it would turn out.I would do it again. Like so many expressed in the days after his passing, “You touched our lives and our hearts. Kokomo, we will always remember you.”

The professionals of the MMC (all volunteers) have put in long hours while working other jobs or putting their lives on hold. It was an honor to work with these individuals. Learn how you can support this organization at www.marinemammalconservancy.org Stop by the MMC if you are in the area. Add this to your stops on vacation. You may also discover that volunteering is the most rewarding way to spend your time, and an experience you can CHERISH FOR LIFE. I did!