- April 26, 2024
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The Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station worked alongside National Marine Fisheries Service to respond to two dolphin strandings in the Intracoastal Waterway near Marineland, over the last two weeks. One of the dolphins was saved, while the second was found already dead.
Matt Denny, Field Coordinator for the station, responded to the call on Thursday, May 10, and worked alongside a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer to reach the animal in need. Upon arriving, the animal was beached on the west side of the Intracoastal on an oyster bed.
Denny then recruited the help of two local fishermen and their flat bottom boat to reach the animal through shallow water, which couldn’t be reached by the FWC’s vessel. Once Denny reached the dolphin, he was able to identify it as an adult male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.
The dolphin appeared to be in good condition, was alert and responsive with minimal cuts from the oysters. Denny consulted with National Marine Fisheries Service, and the decision was made to release the dolphin back to the Intracoastal.
The team worked together to rig a makeshift sling and loaded the animal carefully into the vessel. They then ferried the animal back to a deep-water boat ramp where they successfully released the dolphin. As night continued to fall, Denny and the FWC officer slowly followed the animal north keeping a careful eye on his progress. Georgia Aquarium and FWC will continue to monitor the area.
Then, on May 17, while conducting a photo identification survey of dolphins, Denny and with George Biendenbach, director of conservation and programs for the aquarium, sighted an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin carcass beached along the bank of the Intracoastal.
Upon approaching the animal, Denny and Biendenbach saw that the animal was in a state of moderate to advanced decomposition. Upon examination, it was determined that this was not the same animal as the stranding from earlier in the week.
"Along with network neighbors to the north and south, (The Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station) gathers data from marine mammal stranding events, which help scientists better understand the health status and natural or human pressures that affect small whales and dolphins,” said Biendenbach.
For information on Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station, and how you can support animal conservation and research, visit www.dolphinfieldstation.org.
If you come upon a stranded or injured dolphin call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC(3922).
