A Mass Stranding of Rough-Toothed Dolphins

March 2nd, 2005 stranding of more than 80 Rough-Toothed Dolphins on the sand flats in Marathon, Florida

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, volunteers began evaluating, moving and assembling as many animals as possible into central locations. However, rescuers had a difficult time walking across the muddy bottom, often sinking into the thick substrate up to their thighs. This made the task of moving and gathering the animals together more laborious and time consuming. Many volunteers spent long hours in the cold water, putting their own needs aside, while physically supporting the animals so that they could breathe. After a long night and many cases of hypothermia and extreme exhaustion, rescuers continued moving animals to the stabilization area throughout the following day.

Volunteers moving animals to guarded areas for initial stabilization and support

The next two days were devoted to triage and stabilization. Through health assessments, dolphins were identified and treated. Animals that were strong enough were thrown fish, while others were caught and fed by hand. Meanwhile, plans for transfer to better suited rehabilitation sites were already underway. A total of 32 animals were transported to rehabilitation sites from Marathon, 26 of those accepted by MMC for care (a record breaking number!). Days prior, volunteers had been preparing the MMC site for the arrival of the dolphins. Three, different rehabilitation areas were set up: two critical care pools, a guarded area off the bay, and a deep water lagoon for the healthier animals. After transport in a refrigerated truck, the dolphins arrived at MMC and were distributed amongst the rehabilitation areas. At this point, staff members and veterinarians were able to conduct more thorough evaluations to determine a detailed health status for each individual. Although some animals were able to swim on their own, the majority were too weak to even support their own body weight and stay afloat. Therefore, volunteers were needed around the clock to physically support the animals so that they could breath.

Bottle-feeding an orphaned calf

The large number of animals required constant care and attention. There was so much work to accomplish; MMC had the support of at least 300 volunteers each day. Volunteers spent seemingly endless hours in the water supporting individual animals, which created intense feelings of awe, inspiration, and dedication. The ability to assist such an incredible being in its time of need is often a life changing experience.

Aluminum can removed from a dolphin’s stomach

As the days went on, we inevitably lost some animals, while others showed signs of improvement. Each animal had unique medical needs and received its own individual treatment plan. Therefore, medical evaluations were performed on the dolphins twice a week to determine their ongoing health status and the effectiveness of treatments. Evaluations consisted of a variety of diagnostic tools dependent upon the animals’ needs. These included physical exams, blood draws, weight measurements, and ultrasounds. Many dolphins were treated for severe skin and parasitic infections. Two animals were administered physical therapy and electric stimulation for cramped muscles and scoliosis. An orphaned calf was bottle-fed by caretakers. Upon ultrasound, an old aluminum can was found in the stomach of a female dolphin, which caretakers were able to successfully remove. In addition to medical treatment, each dolphin was fed an appropriate quantity and variety of fish. The initial administration of nutrients was conducted via a feeding tube, using a mixture of Pedialyte® and water, to hydrate the dolphins after the stress of the stranding. When successfully hydrated and more stable, they were taught to eat the dead fish provided by their caretakers.

May 3rd, 2005 simultaneous release of 7 rough-toothed dolphins

All of the rehabilitation efforts were focused on the eventual release of the dolphins back into the wild. Preparations and treatments continued, and those individuals that were healthy enough were moved into our deep water lagoon. In the lagoon, the dolphins had more room to move around and exercise their muscles. As the release date approached, the animals were desensitized to human interaction, exposed to a live diet, and exhibited an ever increasing repertoire of wild behaviors.

All seven dolphins from the May 3rd release spotted together off Andros Island, Bahamas

On May 3rd, 2005, the Marine Mammal Conservancy once again made history, successfully completing the world’s largest, simultaneous release of marine mammals. In hundreds of feet of water, 7 rough-toothed dolphins were returned to their home after 62 days in rehabilitative care. As perfectly as we could have hoped for, the dolphins hit the water and took off without ever looking back. Days later, the pod was spotted off Andros Island in the Bahamas, with all 7 dolphins still together. In total, the pod was tracked for 41 days following their release, during which time they traveled over 1500 miles, resuming their natural lives.

September 7th, 2005 release

However, the story doesn’t end there. Although this was an incredible accomplishment, MMC’s work was not yet complete. The volunteers still had a job to do. Other animals that were not yet healthy enough for release still needed MMC’s help. The calf that had been bottle-fed by volunteers had grown tremendously in size and health. Deemed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and MMC to be unsuitable for release due to her young age at the time of the stranding, the calf was transferred to Gulf World, a managed care facility where she is now in the company of their growing population of rough-toothed dolphins. Rehabilitation continued for months longer until two more animals were healthy enough for release. On September 12th, the remaining members of the group were finally returned to the ocean! In total, MMC successfully rehabilitated 10 animals from the original 26 brought into care, putting our success rate well above the national average.

The Marine Mammal Conservancy is incredibly grateful to a plethora of donors and volunteers that made this massive effort possible. MMC is an IRS-designated 501(c) (3), all-volunteer, non-profit corporation that receives 100% of its financial support for the work they do through private donations and grants.