NON-PROFIT ORG

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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.

Summer 2008 Page 4 The Gray Cross

THANK YOU! The response to the need to purchase equipment and supplies for DRC’s rescue efforts for the endangered Florida Manatee has been amazing. Thanks to you, over $42,000 has been donated to purchase items on our wish list.

Wish List Items Needed

• VHF Radio Transmitter Tag - $750 • Foam Pads (2) - $520 • Waterproof Gear Bags (2) - $200 • CPR Course (9 staff) - $450 • Safety in Boating Course (9 staff) - $495 • Oxygen Administration Course (2 staff) - $300 • Oxygen Kit—$675 • Strap fins (2 pair) - $150.00

When we rescue a manatee for treatment or transport, it’s important that the animal rest on soft foam pads. This reduces the discomfort the manatee might otherwise feel being “on land”. Waterproof bags for our gear will protect electronics and other equipment, clothing, etc. when we’re out searching for manatees. CPR, Boating Safety and Oxygen Administration courses, and the oxygen kit keep us prepared for any circumstance. 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 Membership at 305-289-1121, ext. 229, or email drc-mbr@dolphins.org!

MANATEE IN DISTRESS

1-888-404-FWCC

DOLPHIN

RESEARCH

CENTER

www.dolphins.org

Licensed Manatee Rescue Team for the Florida Keys

New to the Gray Cross?

You can read previous issues from the last two years online. Visit Dolphin Research Center’s website at www.dolphins.org. Click on Member Log-in, then enter the user name Rainbow and password gulf. (Both are case sensitive.) Once inside the Members’ section, click on Newsletters. You’ll find stories on Dually, Bonnie, Sharpie, Ocean, and other manatees we’ve helped in the Florida Keys. If you aren’t already a member, you can join our efforts by returning the form contained in this newsletter, or by visiting our website at www.dolphins.org and clicking on Help DRC. Thank you!

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050

www.dolphins.org

The Gray Cross A Quarterly Publication of DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

Volume 11, Number 3 Summer 2008

On Sunday, June 15th, Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team joined with staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) to rescue a baby female manatee. Residents in the bayside area of mile marker 101 in Key Largo had observed the small animal on its own for several days and reported it to the FWCC. After locating the calf in a canal, rescuers stretched a net from land and divers picked up the little animal and carried her to shore. DRC’s Medical Director Pat Clough performed an initial assessment of the calf. “We don’t know how long the baby had been on her own, or what happened to the mother, but she was emaciated and dehydrated,” Pat explained. The calf was determined to be only 65 pounds and in need of nutrition and fluids. After the assessment, she was transported to Miami Seaquarium for long term care where MSQ veterinarians performed additional tests and assessments. They reported Cont’d page 2

Baby Manatee Rescued!

In the Gray Cross, we talk a lot about the entanglement problems manatees suffer because of discarded monofilament fishing line. How can we not when we have dealt so often with manatees like Bonnie, Dually, Sharpie and others, all of whom have been severely injured when they get entangled in the stuff? You know it’s a serious issue when the same animals get caught up in it often enough that we refer to Bonnie and Dually as “serial entanglers”.

Monofilament line takes hundreds of years to photo degrade and manatees aren’t the only animals affected. Up in Sarasota Bay, more and more dolphins are getting entangled in fishing line and gear. Whales, sea turtles, fish, and birds are not exempt! Many of them die before they can receive help.

The bottom line is that this problem is created by humans, so humans need to also create responsible, practical solutions. Cont’d page 2

Manatee Entanglement Issues

DRC Medical Director Pat Clough (l) helps stabilize Dually

while Miami Seaquarium veterinarian Dr. Maya Rodriguez

( r) prepares to free the manatee of one of her many

previous monofilament entanglements.

So young, so fragile! Kiandra is a very lucky little manatee

to have been rescued after she’d been observed alone in

Key Largo for quite some time. Without intervention, she

would have eventually died!

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 small 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 local 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 now being 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 call (305) 289-1121 extension 229 or send an email to drc-mbr@dolphins.org.

Page 2 The Gray Cross

“Baby” cont’d from page 1 that the youngster adapted smoothly to being fed by a bottle. Seaquarium named the little girl Kiandra which means “water baby”. Since her arrival they have carefully monitored her condition and are using all their experience and knowledge to help her thrive. We’re delighted to report that Kiandra is doing extremely well! In a recent update, Dr. Maya Rodriguez told us that, “Kiandra's assertive little personality has really been an asset to her good health. She immediately took to the bottle and corrected all her imbalances from being without mom and has been gaining weight. She is now at 106 pounds and 140 cm long.” Staff gives her a bottle every two hours from 8 am to 10 pm now since she is drinking such a high volume. They have also introduced solid foods like lettuce and bananas and she is nibbling on them. As she continues to progress, Seaquarium plans to put her in with adult females. She could begin to nurse from some of them. Kiandra would still receive bottle feedings, but this move would

Miami Seaquarium dedicated staff members are

feeding and taking care of Kiandra. The little water

baby is growing strong and healthy!

(Photo courtesy of Miami Seaquarium)

provide her with important manatee socialization. This is not the first orphaned calf that has lived in human care for several years. You might remember Douglas who was rescued as a baby by DRC in the 1990s. At the age of 9 he was reacclimated by Miami Seaquarium and prepared to rejoin the wild population. We helped release him a few years ago. After he was monitored for a year and proved to do well, his tracking gear was removed. Hopefully, one day Kiandra can also return to the Keys waters and help her species thrive. By Mary Stella

Issues, from page 1 Thankfully, progress has been

made and there are ways that everyone can help. Did you know that monofilament fishing line can be recycled? If you live in Florida, you might already be familiar with the sight of recycling bins at bridges, marinas, tackle shops and other locations. Fishing line that is deposited in those bins is later collected and cleaned of hooks, weights, leaders and any trash. It is then sent to the Berkley Pure Fishing Company in Iowa. Berkley melts the line into raw plastic pellets that can then be melted down to make products like tackle boxes, fish habitats, and toys! If you like to fish and want to

learn more about recycling line, visit the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) website at www.fishinglinerecycling.org. Even if you don’t live in Florida, there might be a recycling program active in your state. If there isn’t, the MRRP website has information on how to start one! In addition to fishing line, manatees and other marine life frequently become entangled in other marine debris, including crab trap lines that connect the traps to their buoys. Entanglement in these ropes can cause severe injuries and also impede a manatee’s ability to swim, dive or surface. Thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of derelict crap traps exist in Florida’s coastal waters. Commercial crab fishing is the sole Cont’d next page

Summer 2008

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# NSC088

Page 3 The Gray Cross

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you for helping!for helping!for helping!for helping!

Fishing line can be placed in bins like these at bridges, parks, marinas and elsewhere. Volunteers empty the bins,

sort and clean the line, then send it off to be recycled.

Cont’d from previous page

Income for thousands of residents and nobody wants to see it stopped permanently. However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has proposed harvest closures in three Florida regions. These closures, each lasting as long as ten days, would provide the FWC the chance to collect derelict traps. This measure would reduce the entanglement risk to manatees and other marine

life. Clearing lost or abandoned traps from the water also improves navigation safety. Workshops were held in August to invite public comment on the closures for possible rule making. From those workshops the FWC will work to develop the closure rule language. The hope is that the final rule language will be announced when the FWC’s commissioners meet in February. Florida residents, or anyone who would like to share their opinions or support on this issue is welcome to do so via email to marine@myfwc.com. In your email’s subject line, please put “Blue Crab Comments—Attn: Aaron Podey”. You may also mail your comments to: Aaron Podey, FWC-Division of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle E, Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL, 32301. No matter where we live, we can have a positive effect on the lives of manatees. Your support of our mission is an enormous help. Recycling fishing line or expressing support for a measure that helps reduce manatees’ entanglement risks are two additional ways. Thank you for everything you do! By Mary Stella