News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
May 4, 2023
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
NOTE: Scroll to end of press release to download photos.

 
Dolphin Calf Rescued from Life-threatening Fishing Gear Entanglement Thanks to Efforts Led by
Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
 

Brookfield, Ill. — In just over two months since the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) staff led efforts to rescue a dolphin calf with a life-threatening fishing line entanglement in Sarasota Bay, Florida, the need to assist another calf occurred again last week. This time, it was near Marco Island, about two and a half hours’ drive south of Sarasota. A 1½-year-old male dolphin known as Fergie had been observed with fishing line cutting deeply into the leading edge of his tail flukes.

Deemed a life-threatening situation by authorities from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, SDRP staff once again led a team of nearly 50 personnel from multiple Stranding Network organizations throughout Florida. Collaborating organizations included the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, FWC Southwest Field Lab, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program (MML), Clearwater Marine Aquarium, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, SeaWorld of Orlando, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Once the calf was located, the team waited about 2½ hours for him and his mother, Skipper, to swim towards shallower waters in order to safely attempt the rescue. The intervention, which lasted under a half hour, went well—the line was removed from Fergie’s flukes, his wounds were cleaned, and an injection of a long-lasting antibiotic was administered. In 2014, an SDRP-led team rescued Skipper from her own entanglement.  

Sadly, this maternal lineage has an even wider history of entanglement than just mom and calf. Skipper’s brother Seymour was rescued from a life-threatening entanglement in fishing gear in 2012, and Skipper’s niece, Arial, was reported to be entangled with fishing line around its dorsal fin in January 2019. Fortunately, however, she shed the gear on her own just before the arrival of a rescue team from SDRP and FWC.

In a 2021 article, “Staying Alive: Long-Term Success of Bottlenose Dolphin Interventions in Southwest Florida,” published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, SDRP staff and other experts reported that interventions to save individual dolphins with life-threatening injuries caused by humans provide beneļ¬ts not only to the welfare of those animals, but also to the stability and growth potential of their local populations.

“We are extremely happy with the outcome of this situation, but we sure wish that we didn’t have to take these measures at all,” said Dr. Randy Wells, vice president of marine mammal conservation for the Chicago Zoological Society and director of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. “Entanglements and other human-induced injuries to dolphins can be prevented. Getting fishing gear out of the water when dolphins are nearby, as well as securing gear considered trash such that it can’t get into the environment, can eliminate this risk to dolphins.”

The calf’s rescue was conducted under NOAA permit 24359. The public can report all stranded, injured, and entangled marine mammals to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network 24-hour hotline at 877-WHALEHELP (942-5343).

 
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 Photo Captions
01: Fishing line can be seen entangled in a dolphin calf’s tail fluke. A team of nearly 50 personnel from multiple Stranding Network organizations throughout Florida assisted in the rescue effort to remove the line. (credit CZS-SDRP under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 24359)
 
02: This photo taken by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows fishing line entangled in a dolphin calf’s tail fluke, a life-threatening situation if it wasn’t removed. (credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
 
03: Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program staff led a team of nearly 50 personnel from multiple Stranding Network organizations throughout Florida to rescue a dolphin calf with fishing line entangled in his tail fluke. (credit: CZS-SDRP under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 24359)
 
04: Injuries caused by fishing line entangled in a dolphin calf’s tail fluke. The calf was sighted eating with his mother several days after the line was removed by a rescue team of nearly 50 personnel from multiple Stranding Network organizations throughout Florida. (credit: CZS-SDRP under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 24359)
 
05: Fishing line removed from the tail fluke of a dolphin calf near Marco Island, Florida. (credit: CZS-SDRP under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 24359)

 
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The Zoo is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association. Brookfield Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.
 
About the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program has been operated by the Chicago Zoological Society since 1989. Dolphin Biology Research Institute, a Sarasota-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation was established in 1982 to provide logistical support through its fleet of small research vessels, vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc. Since 1992, the program has been based at Mote Marine Laboratory, with office, lab, storage, and dock space within the resident Sarasota Bay dolphins’ home range. The SDRP maintains academic connections including providing student opportunities primarily through New College of Florida, the University of Florida, the University of California at Santa Cruz, and Duke University. The SDRP is one of CZS’s flagship programs in its Center for Conservation Leadership. Learn more at https://sarasotadolphin.org/.
 

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sondra Katzen
Director of Public Relations
Office: 708-688-8351
Cell Phone: 708-903-2071
E-mail: Sondra.Katzen@CZS.org

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