SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team caring for Risso’s dolphin found stranded on New Smyrna Beach, FL

Late morning on September 16, 2011, beachgoers at New Smyrna Beach, FL found a stranded Risso’s dolphin. Volunteers kept it wet, shaded and cool until research scientists from Hubbs/SeaWorld Research Institute arrived to help care for the animal. Around 3:30 p.m., the animal rescue team from SeaWorld Orlando arrived and loaded the large dolphin into a large truck for the hour-long drive to the park’s Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility.

At the rehabilitation center, SeaWorld vets and animal experts quickly assessed the dolphin’s condition, performed an ultrasound and lowered the animal into the pool.  Experts will monitor the dolphin ‘round the clock. Nothing unusual was found in preliminary exams. This dolphin is about 9’ 6” inches long, its weight is unknown. It is an older male. Many of the scratches and scars on its skin are common and happen during “sparring” with other Risso’s dolphins (see photos).

Additional details:

Dr. Chris Dold, SeaWorld’s chief veterinarian, is cautious about the animal’s prognosis.  More tests are needed to determine if there are any infections or other reasons the animal may have stranded. On Saturday, vets will use x-rays to see if there are any foreign bodies in the dolphin, such as fish hooks.  According to Dr. Dold, “there’s still plenty of work to do. All things being equal, the animal is alert and calm, but we need to determine what the problem is. More tests will help us figure out what the next steps are in caring for this dolphin.”

Risso’s dolphins are pelagic, or deep water, dolphins and are rarely seen stranded on east coast beaches.