DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050 www.dolphins.org ADDRESS SERVICE 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 !

Wish List Items Needed

Dry Pak 210 dry waist bags (3) - $65.00

Foam Pads (2) - $520

Waterproof Gear Bags (2) - $200

Net Bucket - $1500.00

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 your generous assistance .

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 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

Disastrous year, cont’d from previous page

these blooms and what it does to the animals and plants that call the water

home. Hopefully in the future these environmental issues will cause far less

impairment to manatees and other marine organisms. Until then, it is

important to save as many animals as possible.

By Vanessa Collins

References:

"Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)." Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 July 2012.

Web. 11 Sept. 2013.

Novic, Kelly. "Red Tide Outbreaks in Florida." Red Tide Outbreaks in

Florida. Save The Manatee Club, n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013.

"Red Tide FAQ." Red Tide FAQ. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013.

"A Red Tide Is a Common Term Used for a Harmful Algal Bloom." What

Is a Red Tide? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 11 Jan.

2013. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.

We are always grateful to all of you who open your hearts and

generously support the DRC mission, including the Manatee Rescue Team

efforts. Sometimes, we’re surprised in the best possible way when we find

that the spirit of giving and helping marine mammals develops in

youngsters.

Over the summer, a young boy from Illinois named Collin McGuire

dropped by Dolphin Research Center with his mother. For his birthday,

instead of a wish list of presents, he’d asked his family for money so that

he could do something to help manatees. When the McGuires arrived,

they asked in our Gift Shop what they could do and the staff told them

about our manatee rescue efforts. Collin promptly and happily donated

his birthday money, totaling $300.00! This generous gift enabled us to

purchase a hoop net that can be used on future rescue missions.

Many thanks to Collin and all of you for your continued support of

Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team!

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 Overseas Highway Grassy Key, FL 33050

www.dolphins.org

The Gray Cross A Quarterly Publication of DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

Volume 16, Number 3 2013

Summer Rescue Attempt

Disastrous Year for Manatees

Every manatee matters. Let’s all hope that the

year ahead brings improved conditions and fewer

problems for these precious marine mammals.

(Photo by Kit Curtin)

Summer months tend to be a little slower for DRC’s Manatee

Rescue Team in terms of animals we’re asked to assess or rescue

missions. For one, there are fewer manatees in the Florida Keys

during the time when the water is its warmest. While there are

many animals who live around our island chain year-round, in the

winter when the water throughout Florida is colder, additional

manatees come down to the Keys. This is not unlike “snowbird”

people who enjoy the warmer climate we have to offer when their

regular home areas experience winter’s chill.

While summer is still a busy tourist season, it isn’t the

busiest time of year, so there are also fewer boats zipping around

on the water. However, problems do still happen, even with the

less crowded conditions. Such was the case in July, when we

received a call from our colleagues from the Florida Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) about an injured

manatee in the Upper Keys. It had been hit by a boat and was in

need of rescue.

On Sunday, July 14th, a full crew from DRC’s team traveled

to mile marker 95 to meet with the FWC’s team. The animal was,

indeed, severely injured, showing three lacerations down its left

side, with one deep cut going into the chest cavity. According to

Cont’d on page two

Already on the endangered species list, manatees in Florida suffered

a devastating year in 2013. As the Manatee Rescue Team for the Florida

Keys, the recent loss of these marine mammals is extremely sad and

stressful. Both Dolphin Research Center and the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission (FWC) do the best we can to help manatees by

providing resources, time and staff to help in rescues. However, many of

these amazing creatures are dying at an alarming rate due to ecological

issues. With only around 5,000 manatees in Florida, it is vitally important

that we do all that we can to protect the environment we share with our

flippered friends.

As previously reported, earlier in 2013, manatees on the west coast

of Florida combated an environmental factor known as red tide. This

harmful bloom is caused by microscopic algae that die and decompose.

The decaying process depletes oxygen in the water, causing it to become

so low that animals either leave the area or die. Red tide acts as a

neurotoxin in manatees, giving them seizures that can result in drowning

without human intervention.

According to the FWC’s July report, 272 of Florida’s manatees died

so far this year because of red tide. That’s more than five times as many

Disastrous Year, cont’d on Page 3

Boat strikes can cause devastating injuries, as we saw

several years ago with the manatee named Blitzen.

(Photo by Mary Stella)

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 drc-mbr@dolphins.org.

Page 2 The Gray Cross

Summer Rescue, from previous page

Ted Due, DRC’s Director of

Environmental Services, the crew

stretched the net across the end of the

canal, waited for the manatee to swim up

to it, and then quickly closed the rest of

the net around the animal.

Sounds easy, right? Years of

experience have taught us that’s rarely the

case. “Unfortunately, the manatees don’t

understand that we’re there to help,” says

Ted. “Even injured, they put so much

energy and effort into trying to get away.”

Residents told the crew that the

canal was quite deep, probably 18’ to 20’.

That depth presents a greater challenge to

gather in enough net to close any gaps,

and make a purse that will confine the

animal. While the crew feverishly

worked to pull in net, floats, and leads,

the manatee methodically looked for a

way out. “You could see it work the net,

going from spot to spot,” Ted remembers.

Unfortunately, it succeeded in

maneuvering itself beneath the leads at

the bottom of the net and swam away.

While the crew searched the canal, the

manatee surfaced once for a quick breath

and then disappeared. From the rescue boat,

kayaks and the shore, people checked the

entire canal and then spread out to search

from the mouth of the canal and up and

down the coast.

With no further sightings, the FWC

halted the effort and our team returned

home to DRC. As of this writing, there

were no subsequent reports on this

particular manatee. At times, the creatures

are amazingly resilient and we can only

hope that he recovered on his own.

It’s disheartening when we aren’t

successful in rescuing an animal that needs

help. At the same time, it makes us more

determined when we next get a call to

respond to an injured, sick or orphaned

manatee.

By Mary Stella

Pilgrim has already grown to more

than 400 pounds since his rescue last

November. (Photo courtesy of Miami

Seaquarium)

Pilgrim Update!

We checked with our colleagues at

Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) and asked how

Pilgrim is progressing. MSQ veterinarian

Dr. Maya Rodriguez reports that he’s

doing great!

The hope is that he can be released

back into the ocean sometime in March.

He needs to weigh at least 600 pounds

before release and is currently 443 pounds,

so they are offering him plenty of food.

He’s living with a mature male named

Romeo who, apparently, is coaching him

on some male manatee behavior, which

should come in handy when Pilgrim

reaches adulthood.

When first released, Pilgrim will be

outfitted with a tracking tag. This will

enable biologists to monitor his condition

and make sure he’s doing okay on his own.

We hope that he’ll be released in Key

Largo, near where we rescued him last

November. We’ll keep you posted!

By Mary Stella

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# NSC1309

Page 3 The Gray Cross

Thank you

for caring!

Disastrous year, cont’d from Page One

as in 2012. While the red tide bloom began last fall and has largely

dissipated since mid-March, the manatees’ deaths are likely to continue

because the remnants of the toxin still cling to sea grasses. Manatees are

herbivores who can consume up to 100 pounds of vegetation daily,

which is now contaminated.

A phytoplankton bloom in 2011 killed most of the sea grass in the

Indian River in east-central Florida. This year, at least 80 more

manatees have died in the area due to ingesting a different strand of

algae in the absence of the sea grass they normally eat. While many of

the manatees appear outwardly healthy, autopsies have indicated severe

intestinal distress from digesting this food source.

Rescuers have worked diligently to save as many manatees as

possible. Unfortunately, many of the manatees were already dead when

located. Those found alive were in critical condition and needed human

intervention to survive. Those that can be caught are taken to

rehabilitation centers, where they immediately receive antibiotic

injections and are monitored around the clock to ensure they can keep

their heads above water to breathe. The animals cannot be released back

into the wild until the environmental cause dissipates because they will

migrate back to the same area and become sick again.

The effects of these environmental issues go beyond the harm to

manatees. Fish, birds, and dolphins are also victims. The organisms on

the bottom of the food chain eat the poisoned sea grasses which cause

them to either die out or carry the pollutant along to larger predators.

Manatees may die without exhibiting clear symptoms. However,

dolphins and birds waste away over several days. Their bodies go into

starvation mode and lose muscle mass which causes them to become

severely disoriented, affecting their abilities to hunt for food .

Scientists have not yet identified a way to eliminate the impacts of

an algal bloom. In order to control it, you have to kill

off the carrier organism and also remove the toxins

from the water and sea bed. The U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service and State of Florida scientists have

made several attempts to eliminate the dangerous

cells in the environment but have not yet found a

successful cure that will not hurt marine organisms

or the environment.

Harmful blooms cause substantial damage from

sea grass beds to thousand pound mammals. It is

necessary to be aware of the damage associated with

Cont’d next page