Page 44 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

SARASOTA DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROGRAM

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Sarasota Microplastic Pollution
Dolphin Research Program (SDRP)
Research
is the world’s longest-running
dolphin conservation research A first-of-its-kind study co-authored • February-May: SDRP put together
program. In 2024, SDRP staff by the SDRP team found microplastic a disentanglement team to
were involved in 48 funded particles in the exhaled breath of remove a monofilament line
projects, covering a wide variety wild bottlenose dolphins, highlighting and bobber trailing the fluke
of research, education, and inhalation as a potential route of an 8-year-old Sarasota bottle-
conservation topics. In addition, of exposure to these harmful nose dolphin. Though he was
alongside many co-authors, contaminants. Samples collected elusive, the team was able to find
SDRP submitted 23 different from 11 dolphins in Sarasota Bay, him and get rid of the gear in late
scientific manuscripts, including Florida, and Barataria Bay, Louisiana, May. Because of his tendency
11 that are already published. revealed the presence of various to surface “here, there, every,
microplastics, including fibers and everywhere,” the team decided
In an ongoing display of conserva-
fragments. This research suggests to name him Roy Kent from the
tion leadership, SDRP also
that dolphins, like humans, may be TV show Ted Lasso. He was most
engaged in and experienced
vulnerable to microplastic inhalation, recently seen in February 2025.
these 2024 highlights:
raising concerns about potential
• SDRP joined Florida partners
health impacts such as lung damage.
to rescue two dolphins entrapped
Further studies are needed to assess
in a shallow lagoon near Pine
the full extent of this exposure and
Island. Wading through the mucky
Top: Dr. Katie McHugh teaches a King its effects on dolphin health.
shallows with the dolphins on a
Conservation Science Scholar during floating mat, the group towed
Dolphin Rescues
their educational visit to see SDRP
them out to boats which took
research in action.
• January-May: In Palma Sola Bay them to deeper water. One of the
Middle: King Conservation Science
in January, an SDRP survey boat dolphins was first documented by
Scholars observe dolphin fins.
discovered a dolphin and her
Bottom: SDRP researchers and colleagues the SDRP in 2003 near Pine Island.
4-year-old calf, who had braided
collect samples of dolphin breath
as part of microplastic pollution study. fishing line wrapped around its Offshore Dolphin Research
dorsal fin. In May, the team found
Photos by the Sarasota Dolphin Research
In 2024, SDRP continued to extend
Program of Brookfield Zoo Chicago, them in shallow water and did a
its efforts over the West Florida
taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific full health work-up on both and
Shelf through health assessments
Research Permit removed the line from the calf.
and tagging of Atlantic spotted
The calf was seen in February
dolphins 32 to 46 miles offshore.
2025 and looked healthy.
The work involved veterinary
examinations, sampling and tagging
with satellite-linked transmitters