Rescue, rehabilitation and release of a rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis (Lesson, 1828), stranded in the Todos os Santos Bay, Salvador, BA

Published source details Bastos B., Maia-Nogueira R., Rosa S.M., Pedreira L., Norberto G. & da Cunha I.F. (2002) Resgate, reabilitacao e soltura de um golfinho-de-dentes rugosos, Steno bredanensis (Lesson, 1828), encalhado na Baia de Todos os Santos, Salvador, BA. Bioikos, 16, 5-11.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals Action Link

Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals

A study in 2001 at a pelagic site in the South Atlantic Ocean, near Salvador, Brazil (Bastos at al. 2002) found that a trapped rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis was successfully rescued and released. An adult female rough-toothed dolphin found trapped between wooden house stilts was successfully rescued and released in the open sea. The dolphin was observed swimming alongside the boat after release, although long-term survival was not reported. On 29 October 2001, the dolphin (2.3 m long) was found trapped in a suburban area within a bay. The next day after 4 h of observation, a nylon net (150 m long x 3 m deep, 0.4 mm nylon wires, 2 cm mesh size) and a silk cable net with foam floats attached (5 x 5 x 5 m, 8 mm silk cables, 10 cm mesh size) were dragged by small boats to encircle and capture the dolphin. Local fishers helped with the rescue, which took 3 h. The dolphin was treated with Dexametason, Diazepam, and Enrofloxacin just after capture to reduce the effects of stress. The dolphin was covered with wet white cloths and transported by motorboat to waters adjacent to a beach at a museum. She was contained in the silk net and treated with an anti-parasitic drug (Ivermectin). The dolphin was monitored for 1 h before being released at sea, one nautical mile offshore.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)