AFTER 3 YEARS, BIOLOGIST FINALLY HAS Date with dolphins (Mississippi)

SUN HERALD ^ | Nov 24, 2008 | By RYAN LaFONTAINE

[Islander7]

The museum area of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies features interactive displays for learning about marine life at the new facility in Gulfport.



Marine Life post Hurricane Katrina

New research, rehab facility features museum

GULFPORT -- Dolphin lovers at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies are flipping over their new state-of-the-art museum and research facility expected to open in the next few weeks.

IMMS President Dr. Moby Solangi, a marine biologist who spent more than two decades working with dolphins at Marine Life Oceanarium, said the new 12-acre Center for Marine Education and Research will open as soon as Harrison County officials can pave the entrance along the Industrial Seaway, just off Cowan-Lorraine Road.

"This is all cutting-edge stuff that we're doing here," Solangi said. "And obviously we're very excited about opening our new facility."

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[Islander7]

The institute's 2005 rescue of a pod of dolphins stranded in Mallini Bayou in Pass Christian made headlines.

However, that news was overshadowed a few months later when Katrina flattened the Marine Life Oceanarium, home to 17 bottlenose dolphins.

Eight trained dolphins were swept out to sea and after several days of unsuccessful searching, Solangi figured they were gone for good.

"Some of them had been born in captivity, so they had no idea how to find food," Solangi said. "It would be like someone dropping you in the jungle and telling you to survive on your own."

But on the morning of Sept. 10, 2005, the nation awoke to scenes playing out on most major television networks of the Coast dolphins splashing and playing in the Mississippi Sound. Biologists located the dolphins by performing aerial surveys from a NOAA Fisheries Service airplane.

[Islander7]

[freebilly]

Dr. Moby Solangi

He a white guy...?

[Islander7]

Dr. Moby Solangi

He a white guy...?

Yes, from India. Why does that matter?

[freebilly]

Moby... Moby... There’s a famous book about a great white cetacean. What’s that book’s name...?

[WayneS]

THREE YEARS to get a date with a dolphin?

He should have tried eBestiality.com. I think they have a guarantee that they'll find you a "suitable" partner within six months or you get six months free, or something.

[decimon]

John Lilly freed his Willies.