Radio-tracking and survivorship of two rehabilitated bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Published source details Mazzoil M.S., McCulloch S.D., Youngbluth M.J., Kilpatrick D.S., Murdoch M.E., Mase-Guthrie B., Odell D.K. & Bossart G.D. (2008) Radio-tracking and survivorship of two rehabilitated bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Aquatic Mammals, 34, 54-64.
Share Tweet Email

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Hand-rear orphaned or abandoned marine and freshwater mammal young Action Link
	Rehabilitate and release injured, sick or weak marine and freshwater mammals Action Link

Hand-rear orphaned or abandoned marine and freshwater mammal young

A study in 2003 in an estuary in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA (Mazzoil et al. 2008) found that an orphaned common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus calf reared in captivity and released back into the wild survived for at least seven days. The orphaned male calf was successfully tracked for seven days after release before contact was lost with his transmitter. During this time, the calf remained within 10 km of the release site and was observed foraging and interacting with other dolphins. The orphaned calf (one year old) was found stranded, underweight and dehydrated in August 2003 and transported to a rehabilitation facility. He was treated with antibiotics and provided with appropriate nutrition. After three months in captivity, the calf was radio-tagged and held in a temporary enclosure (7 x 12 x 2 m) within the estuary for 1 h before release. The calf was tracked daily for seven days in October 2003. Attempts to locate the calf were made for a further 10 days after contact was lost, including multiple vessel and aerial surveys.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
Rehabilitate and release injured, sick or weak marine and freshwater mammals

A study in 2000–2001 in an estuary in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA (Mazzoil et al. 2008) found that a stranded common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus that was rehabilitated and released back into the wild survived for three months. The adult male dolphin (aged 24 years) survived for 100 days after release but subsequently died after an invasive species of fish (black chin tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron) became lodged in his larynx. The dolphin travelled 67 km from the release site and was observed socializing with other dolphins after release. In August 2000, the dolphin was found stranded on a boat ramp with severe shark bite wounds and transported to a rehabilitation facility. After six months of rehabilitation, the dolphin was radio-tagged and released back into the estuary. He was tracked twice weekly until June 2001 when his body was recovered 35 km from the release site.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)