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DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050 www.dolphins.org ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
Dolphin Research Center is a not-for-profit corporation specializing in education and research. DRC is a tax-exempt organization, and as such, all donations, monetary or otherwise, are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Page 4 The Gray Cross
THANK YOU! The Florida Keys are beautiful, but the salt
water and hot sun are tough on equipment Thank
you for all you do to make sure that we have what
we need to help the endangered Florida Manatee.
Wish List Items Needed
Hoop Net - $450
Foam Pads (2) - $520
Waterproof Gear Bags (2) - $200
CPR Course (5 staff) - $250
Strap fins (2 pair) - $150.00
Net Bucket—$1500.00
Protective bladders to
waterproof radios (6) - $250.00
Rash Guard Shirts—$1250.00
Animal rescue requires specialized equipment
to not only increase our chances for success, but
also to help us operate with the utmost safety for
the team as well as the manatees.
We could not do these rescue missions
without the generous assistance you provide.
You may donate money for these specific
items, or make a general donation to the Dolphin
Research Center Manatee Rescue Team.
For more information, contact the
Membership Department at 305-289-1121, ext. 229, or email [email protected]!
Love to Fish? Don’t Leave Your Line Behind!
Monofilament fishing line can be recycled! Look for a bin at your neighborhood marina, bridge or tackle shop. To find a location near you, visit www.fishinglinerecycling.org!
HERA, cont’d from page two
The week’s objectives were accomplished. All dolphins were
handled with expert care and safely released into their marine home.
DRC’s Rescue team took to the field again on July 21st when
Animal Care and Habitat Specialists Adam Keaton and Ryan Bliss
joined a multi-agency Intervention Team led on the water by Steve
McCulloch to locate and successfully disentangle a dolphin calf in the
Indian River Lagoon. The entangled dolphin calf , known as Mono
(short for monofilament), is just over one year of age. She and her
mother are known to HBOI researchers. Unfortunately Mono has
picked up bad habits and it was the third intervention for this young
calf. The team deployed a 400 yard net encircling the pair. They were
restrained within sight of each other and the dolphins could be heard
whistling to each other through the entire process. A black cord that
had wrapped around her body was successfully removed from Mono
and then she and her mother were safely released into the lagoon.
Wild dolphins and marine mammals worldwide are faced with
increasing threats due to human impact including interactions, disease
and a variety of environmental stressors. Monofilament and gear lines
can cause the amputation of fins and pecs. Please help keep marine
mammals gear-free. Dispose of all of your gear responsibly and teach
others to do the same.
By Bette Zirkelbach
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050
www.dolphins.org
The Gray Cross A Quarterly Publication of DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER
Volume 14, Number 3 2011
Manatee Rescue Team Helps Protect Dolphins
Manatees—The Sometimes Social Animal
This calf is nursing from its mother’s teat
(located beneath the flipper) while the
manatee pair hung out in a canal in
Lower Matecumbe in the Florida Keys.
(Photo by Susan Sorensen)
Pat Clough (right, in cap and sunglasses) and Bette
(left in ball cap near boat) assist in the safe capture
of a dolphin for an important health assessment.
(Photo by: Gary Firstenberg / NMFS Permit # 14352-00;
Courtesy Harbor Branch - FAU)
Members from Dolphin Research Center’s Rescue Team joined multi-agency
efforts in the field this summer on two separate occasions to help ease the way for
dolphins in the wild.
For one week in June, Medical Director Pat Clough and Director of Facilities
Bette Zirkelbach teamed with an elite crew of top marine mammal researchers
during the annual Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA) of free-
ranging bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon. Led by Dr. Greg Bossart
(Georgia Aquarium Chief Veterinary Officer & Senior Vice President, Veterinary
Services) and coordinated by Steve McCulloch (Program Manager of Marine
Mammal Research at Harbor Branch Oceanographic at Florida Atlantic
University), this project is one of the longest standing and most comprehensive
health assessments of any marine animal. HERA focuses on the health of
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the wild. Dolphins are at the top of the
food chain and serve as a key species for monitoring not only the health of these
animals and their environment, but also human health.
Cont’d page two
Manatees, once thought to be mermaids, have always been a little bit of
a mystery. Their social behavior seemed to be a mix of independence and
herd life. No significant contributions were made in behavioral studies until
the 1950s, when Joseph Curtis Moore observed manatees congregating
around a power plant in the Miami River, and the late 60s when Daniel
Hartman started a long-term behavior study in Crystal River.
Manatees are considered a semi-social animal, which means that with
some exceptions, the basic social unit is the female and her calf. Any other
groups are temporary. These temporary groups could be manatees wanting to
mate, gathering around a fresh water source or seeking warm water around a
power plant in winter.
Mating herds are formed when a group of male manatees follow a
female around, sometimes for a month at a time. During this time, the female
tries to escape her pursuers, often swimming into shallows to keep them
from her underside. After what is known as a consort period, the “herd” will
break up and the males will leave the pregnant female alone. The father
manatees don’t play any role in raising the calf.
When the female has her calf, it will remain close to her side, able to
swim minutes after birth. The calf will normally swim parallel to its mother,
Cont’d page three
THE GRAY CROSS
Dolphin Research Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to a better understanding of marine mammals and the environment we share. DRC is home to a colony of dolphins and sea lions where we conduct innovative research and offer many interactive, educational programs. Beyond our lagoons, we are the only private organization in the Florida Keys licensed to respond to manatees in distress. We are actively involved in our community providing outreach presentations on a variety of conservation subjects. The Gray Cross evolved from our work with stranded marine mammals. DRC’s critical care program is world renowned. Our experience with dolphins, whales and sea lions is used to help the endangered Florida Manatee. DRC has also participated in rescue and release of endangered sea turtles. As a not-for-profit organization, contributions to DRC are welcomed and tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. For more information, visit our website at www.dolphins.org, call (305) 289-1121 extension 229 or send an email to [email protected].
Page 2 The Gray Cross
HERA from page one
The Indian River Lagoon, the
setting for HERA, is unique.
Labeled as the most biologically
diverse estuary in North America,
it supports more than 3,500
documented species of animals,
plants, fungi, and simple-celled
organisms. The area includes
nurseries for several species of
fish, sea grass beds, and is a
popular location for manatees and
dolphins. The health of the Indian
River Lagoon is threatened by
storm water runoff, excessive
human growth, habitat loss,
pollution and other human
activities. In addition to the health
and long-term viability of
bottlenose dolphins, the HERA
research program is designed to
assess environmental and human
related stressors.
The project involves physical
examinations and the collection
and analysis of various health
measurements on temporarily
restrained dolphins. This research
was conducted under a National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
permit issued to Dr. Bossart. Pat and Bette
worked alongside a team of over 40 specialists.
In addition to DRC, other organizations
represented included Dolphins Plus, Marine
Mammal Conservancy, Georgia Aquarium
Dolphin Conservation Field Station, Hubbs-Sea
World Research Institute, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Ocean Embassy and HBOI
(FAU). These agencies specialize in marine
mammal care, rehabilitation and protection. The
fleet consisted of nine boats, including
collection, processing and safety vessels.
Cont’d page four
Once a dolphin was safely on board, veterinarians quickly
assessed the animal’s condition and took measurements.
(Photo by: Gary Firstenberg / NMFS Permit # 14352-00; Cour-
tesy Harbor Branch - FAU)
Dolphin-Friendly Fishing & Viewing Tips
Never feed wild dolphins. It’s harmful & illegal!
Reuse leftover bait. Dumping it may attract dolphins to your fishing area to beg
or steal your catch.
Reel in lines if dolphins appear. Wait for them to pass. Never cast toward
dolphins.
If dolphins show interest in your bait or catch, change locations.
Release catch quietly away from dolphins when and where it is possible to do so
without violating state or federal fishing regulations.
Check gear and terminal tackle to avoid unwanted line breaks. Even small
amounts of gear in water can harm wildlife.
Use circle hooks and corrodible hooks. These reduce injuries to fish, dolphins
and sea turtles.
Stay at least 50 yards away from dolphins and other marine mammals.
Recycle fishing line in a Monofilament Fishing Line Recycling bin.
Stash your trash. Littering is illegal and can be harmful to wildlife. Dispose of
trash in an appropriate receptacle.
Information supplied by NOAA’s Fisheries Service, the Chicago Zoological Society,
Mote Marine Laboratory and Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
Yes! I would like to make a contribution to Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team and their efforts to save an endangered species. __$10 $15 $25 $35 $50 Other $ Donations can be mailed to DRC, 58901 Overseas Hwy, Grassy Key, FL 33050, made online at www.dolphins.org or faxed to (305) 743-7627. Thank you!
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________ City: ____________________ State: ____ Zip: _________ Country: _____________
Type of Payment: (Please make checks payable to Dolphin Research Center.)
___ Check (US Funds) ____ Money Order (US Funds)
Credit Card: ____ VISA ____ MasterCard ____ Discover ____ Amex
Card # __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ Expires: __ __ /__ __
Signature of Cardholder: ________________________________________________
For more information about the Gray Cross and Dolphin Research Center, call 305-289-1121 extension 229. SC# NSC1011
Page 3 The Gray Cross
Social, cont’d from page one
directly behind her flipper. This makes communication easier
and is also more hydrodynamic for the calf.
Manatees have also been known to form playgroups where
they bodysurf or play follow-the-leader. Bodysurfing is where
manatees ride the currents in coordinated parallel formations while
nuzzling and vocalizing with each other. Follow-the-leader is a
behavior in which manatees swim single file, synchronizing all of
their movements, like diving and even breathing.
Despite the fact that manatees are often found alone,
communication is still a very important part of their life. Not much
is known about how manatees communicate, but it involves
vocalization, nuzzling and acoustics. Manatees communicate with
others during playtime, and communication between a mother and
her calf is necessary.
When manatees aren’t busy playing or raising a calf, they can
be seen happily swimming around by themselves. This semi-social
lifestyle also makes it much easier when it comes to releasing
manatees back into the wild. Unlike dolphins or whales, manatees
are generally more independent, so rehabilitators don’t have to
worry about whether or not the manatee will find a pod and fit in
with it. They are perfectly content with their semi-social lifestyle,
but that doesn’t mean that they don’t like to have a little fun every
once in a while!
By Julia Sayers
Interested in learning more about manatees?
Visit Dolphin Research Center’s website and click
on Marine Education.
Look for these and other books:
Manatees and Dugongs by John E. Reynolds III &
Daniel K. Odell
Manatees Natural History & Conservation by
James Powell
These nuzzling manatees might be communicating
something to each other but we don’t know what!
(Photo by Susan Sorensen)