Page 27 - Gateways_2017_Fall

The specially designed vessel Flip
serves as a platform for dolphin health
assessments, rescue situations, and
surveys of dolphins’ sh prey.

RESEARCHERS TO THE RESCUE
Sometimes help for a dolphin comes not
from in-depth scientific research but rather
from extensive experience working with
these animals on a daily basis. Staff from
the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
are often called on to help out when a
dolphin is caught in fishing gear or other
manmade materials or becomes stranded
due to factors such as changing tides.
The National Marine Fisheries Service,
the division of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration that is
responsible for protecting dolphins, gives
the go-ahead when a dolphin needs help. A
Sarasota program team—accompanied by
staff from the Fisheries Service and other is thriving. Some transmitters also can Marco Island, one of the fastest-growing
stranding response institutions in Florida— document dive patterns and durations population centers in Florida. The
then heads out to free the dolphin and and water conditions—adding to the dolphins of this area have never been
give it medical attention as needed. program’s database of information— studied systematically, so no current
If an animal has sustained serious before detaching after the end of the population assessment or photo-
injuries, it is taken to a rehabilitation battery life. Each release is a chance identification data exist for this region.
facility for treatment, then released when to study and improve the technology Thanks go to Michael and Judy
veterinarians decide it has recovered that is used to track these animals. Mason and the Batchelor Foundation
enough to be able to survive on its own. In the last year, the Sarasota Dolphin for their support of the Sarasota
Prior to release, Wells and his crew tag Research Program has expanded its Dolphin Research Program. If you
it with a safe, well-tested satellite-linked work to assess and conserve bottlenose want to help out with initiatives such
transmitter to track it and ensure that it dolphins in the waters off Naples and as this, just go to CZS.org/Donate.

Photos taken by the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota
Dolphin Research Program under National Marine Fisheries
Service Scientic Research Permit No. 15543.

BROOKFIELD ZOO | FALL 2017 27