Mission: “to return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it”

Volume 6 Winter 2011

A newsletter of the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Stranding Program.

Fins and Flukes

Orphaned Calf Rescued from the Indian River, Titusville

On 11 December 2010, a small dolphin was reported swimming alongside a deceased adult dolphin in the Indian River. Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) rushed to the scene and began searching for the animals by boat. After many hours, the animals were located in very shallow water (1.5 ft deep) near Parrish Park, Titusville. The small 3.5 ft (110 cm) calf was observed frequently attempting to nurse from its deceased mother and remained very close to the grounded carcass. A decision was made by NOAA to take the orphaned calf to a rehabilitation center since newborn dolphins are unable to survive on their own. Since daylight hours were slipping by,

this would require a quick response from multiple stranding network partners. At approximately 5:30 PM, staff from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrived onsite with a net, a Brevard county sheriff, and a FWC vessel. Using the net, the calf was easily captured, placed into HSWRI’s vessel and transported back to Parrish Park. The deceased animal was towed to the dock and transported to SeaWorld Orlando for necropsy. The calf was loaded into a transport ambulance and transported by HSWRI and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for rehabilitation. Necropsy (animal autopsy) of the

mother revealed that she likely died due to acute bacterial septicemia. We are pleased to report that the calf is doing well. She is gaining weight steadily and is being housed alongside another dolphin, Winter, whom HSWRI rescued in 2005. The two orphaned dolphins have made quite a media splash, even being featured on the Today Show. We sincerely thank Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (Melbourne Lab), Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Brevard County Sherriff's Dept., SeaWorld Orlando, and Carolina Skiff for contributing to the rescue of this orphaned calf.

Interesting Necropsy Findings

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On February 7th, HSWRI received a call that an adult dolphin (the presumed mother) was pushing a deceased juvenile dolphin in the Mosquito Lagoon. This behavior is quite typical for bottlenose dolphins and a mother may push her deceased calf for up to one week. As NOAA policy is not to intervene with this process, the carcass was not recovered until the adult released the calf. The following day staff from Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) found the small dolphin floating alone in the same area and recovered the carcass. The 5.4ft (164cm) juvenile female dolphin was transported for examination by HSWRI and VCEM. It was immediately discovered that a cylindrical fish was coiled in the animal’s blowhole and after careful examination, a 2.1 ft (65 cm) eel was removed. The eel was stretched across the blowhole and was coiled in the nasal sacs that are present on each side of the blowhole. The animal likely regurgitated the eel after attempting to eat it. The eel then maneuvered up through the dolphin’s airway into the nasal passages and blowhole. In this case the animal did not present any other signs of illness and the death was due to asphyxiation caused by the eel. To our knowledge this is the only documented case of its kind. We sincerely thank Rob Kirby with VCEM for recovering this dolphin and for his assistance in this interesting and important case.

Rare Beaked Whale Strands in Melbourne Beach

The eel was visible in the dolphin’s

blowhole prior to dissection. Inset: The

eel after it was removed from the nasal

passages.

On January 26th a small whale was reported thrashing in the surf near Long Point Park in Melbourne Beach. HSWRI staff dispatched to the scene and found a beaked whale swimming near the surf line. The animal had reportedly been pushed back to sea at least two times and was in poor condition. Within minutes of our arrival, the animal swam closer to shore and stranded itself on the sand. Attempts were made to upright the whale but due to it’s large size, we were unable to remove him from the surf. The whale died on the beach shortly after stranding. With the help of staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Brevard County Sheriff’s office, Brevard County Fire and Rescue, local residents and volunteers, we were able to remove the whale from the beach. The whale was loaded in the HSWRI truck and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for necropsy. The 11.9 ft (364 cm) adult male whale was identified as a Blaineville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris; also known as a Dense beaked whale).

This animal one of only four of this species that have stranded on Brevard’s beaches since 1977. Blaineville’s beaked whales can reach estimated lengths of 15-20ft. Adult males are easily identified by a pair of large visible tusk-like teeth that protrude from the lower jaw and point forward. These whales are known to dive up to 4,600 ft deep (> 54 minutes) and use suction to feed on small fish and squid in deep water. While final necropsy results are still pending, we hope that the very thorough examination will help determine why this animal stranded and will contribute to the our knowledge of the biology of these amazing but little known whales. We sincerely thank all of those that

assisted with the recovery and necropsy of this animal: Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Brevard County Fire and Rescue and Sheriff’s Office, SeaWorld veterinarians (Drs. Judy St. Leger & Nancy Stedman), and Alex Costidis and Micah Brodsky.

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What can you do to help

a stranded whale

or dolphin?

To report an injured or dead

marine mammal, please call: 1-888-404-3922 Please do not push the animal

back into the water. Stranded

animals are typically very sick,

injured or orphaned and will

beach themselves again. Keep people and pets away from

the animal. Limit the number

of people to the minimum

needed to hold the animal

upright. Petting stranded

marine mammals should be

avoided because it may cause

stress to the animal.

Keep the animal upright and

relieve pressure from the

flippers by digging pits under

them in the sand.

Keep the animal cool and wet

by pouring water on the skin or

applying wet towels and

shading the animal (avoid

getting water in or blocking the

blowhole).

Avoid the tail area and let go of

the animal if it thrashes.

Stranded whales and dolphins

are wild animals and can be

dangerous.

2010-2011 Strandings

In 2010 we responded to 80 strandings (69 dead and 11 live) that included: • 66 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (62 dead, 4 live) • 3 unknown delphinids (dead) • 5 pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) (2 dead, 3 live) • 1 dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) (dead) • 1 Gervais’ beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) (live) • 4 short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) (1 dead, 3 live). HSWRI scientists responded to 61 strandings in Brevard County and 19 in Volusia County. In 2011, to date, we have responded to 16 strandings (15 dead and 1 live) that included: 13 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (12 dead) 1 Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon

densirostris) (live) 1 pygmy sperm whale (Kogia sima) (dead) 1 unknown delphinid (dead)

Dwarf Sperm Whale Strands in Melbourne Beach

On February 15th we received a call from an HSWRI volunteer reporting a small black whale that had appeared to have just died in Melbourne Beach. Upon arrival the animal was identified as a dwarf sperm whale. The 7.7 ft (236 cm) adult male was immediately recovered and was transported to SeaWorld Orlando for a thorough necropsy. Upon necropsy the animal was found to exhibit severe heart disease (cardiomyopathy), which commonly causes pygmy and dwarf sperm whales to strand. Dwarf sperm whales are the smaller relative of pygmy sperm whales and only grow to eight feet long. These whales are deep divers that are commonly found in offshore waters and feed on squid. To date, the rehabilitation of whales of this species has been unsuccessful, despite the valiant efforts of many talented and dedicated people. During a routine necropsy we collect hundreds of samples that contribute to our understanding of the health and biology of the species. We are hopeful that over time the information we collect will help with the conservation of these remarkable animals.

In Memoriam: This past year

the stranding team has been

deeply saddened by the loss of

dear colleagues and friends.

We will treasure your memories

always.

Dr. Nélio Barros, Vicki DeFreese

and Dr. Michael Cohen.

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Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) is a not-for-profit research organization established in 1963, by the founders of SeaWorld, Inc. in San

Diego, California. For over 40 years, the Institute’s mission has been “to

return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it.” HSWRI has been involved with marine mammal strandings in Florida for decades and has been a participant in the Southeastern U.S. Stranding Network for over a decade. As a stranding network member, HSWRI responds to cetacean (whale and dolphin) strandings along the east coast of Florida, primarily in Brevard County, where the majority of strandings occur. Stranded animals provide an opportunity for HSWRI scientists to gather biological information and conduct valuable scientific research that is critical to our understanding of the health of coastal and ocean ecosystems in Florida. The team is also called upon to assist with manatee strandings and to assist with cetacean stranding events outside its primary area.

Stranding Network Comes Together for a Busy Season

The coordinators of the HSWRI Marine Mammal Stranding Team: (from left to right) Assistant Research Scientist, Teresa Mazza and Research Scientists, Wendy Noke Durden and Megan Stolen.

This winter has proven to be a busy season for the stranding network as a whole. Over the past few months our team has assisted with several stranding events outside of our primary geographic and taxonomic areas: Cold temperatures have been effecting manatees statewide. When water temperatures drop below 68º F, it becomes difficult for manatees to thermo-regulate and maintain their body temperature. When chronically exposed to cold water the animals may develop “cold stress syndrome” which can result in death. This winter our colleagues at Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Melbourne Laboratory, have been extremely busy with manatee rescues and necropsies and HSWRI staff and volunteers have assisted with the rescue of over a

dozen manatees. On December 10th 2010, staff from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution sighted a 16-month old bottlenose dolphin calf that was entangled in monofilament fishing line. After consultation with NOAA Fisheries a decision was made to capture and disentangle the animal. For several weeks, HSWRI assisted with the resighting efforts leading up to the eventual rescue of this dolphin calf. On January 21st the calf was successfully captured, disentangled from gear that had cut deeply into its mouth and left pectoral flipper, and released back into the Indian River. On February 3rd, our team assisted with the response to a juvenile right whale that had become entangled and

subsequently died following many attempts to disentangle it. The response and necropsy of this animal was a multi-agency effort involving stranding network members from the entire eastern United States. We are proud to collaborate with a network of individuals and organizations that provide support to each other when stranding events are demanding.

This bottlenose dolphin calf was

successfully disentangled from

monofilament fishing line.

HSWRI assisted in the rescue of

this manatee that was suffering

from cold stress.

Members of the HSWRI

stranding team were on

scene for the recovery and

necropsy of a right whale

that was found entangled

off of Florida’s east coast.

Corporate Partners

As we grow, our ability to respond to marine

mammal strandings along Florida’s east central

coast is improving thanks to the dedicated

support from corporate partners. Thank you for

your continuous support!

Welcome Members

HSWRI welcomes all of our members to the stranding program and we look forward to seeing you at our next outreach event. We extend a sincere thank you for your support of our program and for your comments about Fins and Flukes! Contributions will directly aid HSWRI research and our response to live and dead whales and dolphins.

To learn more about becoming a

Hubbs-Society member, please call:

321-327-8970

WISH LIST

Field Supplies Disposable Items

Rope Heavy-duty garbage bags

Rubber boots Tarps

Waterproof flashlights Granola Bars

Bungee cords Bottled Water

Sharpie markers Zinc Oxide

AA Batteries

Field Equipment

Boat cover and bimini (for DLX 1780 Skiff)

*Please contact us to arrange a pick up or

locate a drop off point.

We are always in need of items to support stranding response. All contributions will be acknowledged in our next newsletter.

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A special thanks to our Florida Hubbs-Society members for their support of HSWRI and the Stranding Program:

AFTCO Manufacturing, Inc. Alice & Brad Andrews Elli & Jim Atchison Jane & Bill Bieberbach Rose & Dan Brown Stephanie Cohen Community Foundation of Brevard Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation Darden Restaurants

Julie & Pete Ensor EuroGrafix & EuroPrint Sally & Hal Furman Dixie & Jerry Sansom SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment W. Kelly Smith US Scuba Center

We would like to express our deep appreciation to the veterinary and

animal care staff at SeaWorld Orlando for their constant support and assistance.

Sue Ellen & Ron Agin Nazeea Ashraf Bay Com Network Specialists Corp. Stephanie Cohen Summer & Hugh Devlin Carolyn & W.S. Dodd, Jr. Samantha Fowler The Bologna Family Sheila and Ronald Fuchs Joanne & Daniel Hansen Nancy Brown Hancock Mr. Hooton’s 4th grade class Sydney Hutchings Shirley Ingersoll Jane Jackson Valorie and Nicole James The Lynch Family Jini James & Philip McKee

Kelli McGee Merritt Island Wildlife Association Elaine Miller Matt Moreau Estelle Mostecki Claire & Stephen Peffer Mary Potysman Ann Perry The Peters Family Carolyn Schlick Samantha Sparks Kenneth Stewart Danise Martinez & Dr. Michael Walsh Rick Walsh Michael Wolf Tammy Zielinski

We thank Kids Making a Difference

for donating much needed supplies and

equipment!

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute

3830 S. Highway A1A #4-181

Melbourne Beach, FL 32951

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