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Fl. Volunteers work to free dolphins, used feeding tubes to hydrate the most vulnerable
tursiops.org, your #1 cetacean news source! ^
| Friday, March 04
Posted on 03/31/2005 2:50:33 PM PST by St. Johann Tetzel
Volunteers work to free dolphins. Florida, USA |
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Dozens of volunteers toiled through a chilly night Thursday to tend to the 60 dolphins remaining from a group that stranded off the Middle Keys, using small boats to ferry some to a makeshift pen that has become the marine mammal equivalent of a triage ward.
By afternoon, six dolphins had died and 14 were still in painstaking transit, as U.S. Coast Guard personnel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and others helped move the listless animals one by one from offshore flats to safety.
Volunteers in wet suits used feeding tubes to hydrate the most vulnerable and fed fish to those able to swim, their dorsal fins affixed with red tags and numbers.
Ron Whitson on Thursday supports one of more than 60 rough-toothed dolphins that stranded off Marathon on Wednesday. Six dolphins had died by Thursday afternoon.
About 20 other dolphins that stranded late Wednesday managed to swim to sea.
The sound of those in struggle was that of tiny squeaks and labored breathing.
BLOOD SAMPLES Biologists extracted blood samples and examined the animals to try to determine what caused the rough-toothed dolphins to beach en masse about 52 miles northeast of Key West.
The rough-toothed dolphin, which is typically found in warm waters, has a distinctive narrow dorsal cape and cone-shaped head.
Scientists hope necropsies on those that died will decipher what compelled the normally deep-water mammals to approach land.
Blair Mase, Southeast Regional Stranding Network coordinator for NOAA Fisheries, which manages responses to strandings, said researchers were not ruling out other potential causes, such as a virus.
At least five calves were among the stranded, whose plight spawned an outpouring of local assistance Thursday. Businesses donated everything from towels to flashlights to food and trucks, while a crush of volunteers prompted coordinators to set up a separate registration post a few miles away.
A range of helpers, from retirees to local service workers, gently held blowholes above water and kept dolphin heads moist.
''I was holding a baby earlier and it shivered and threw up and then it died,'' said Ron Whitson, a Marathon retiree. ``I felt really bad.''
''People came down because they care,'' said Steve Gainen, a dolphin trainer who ventured south from Florida City. ``These creatures are in trouble.''
The Coast Guard also established a ''security zone'' around two areas where the dolphins were located Thursday, to discourage gawking and give volunteers a wide berth.
CHECKING VOLUNTEERS Officials were also closely monitoring volunteers' safety.
''We had about eight people that had early signs of hypothermia last night,'' said Josh Harrington, a Coast Guard spokesman.
Officials said they were hoping to bring in cranes Friday to help move some or all of the animals to rehabilitation facilities in the Keys and Miami.
''This is not an ideal situation,'' Mase said, referring to the chalky lagoon where the animals are being held.
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TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: animalrights; feedingtubes; schiavo; sickcommentary; terrischiavo
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Volunteers in wet suits used feeding tubes to hydrate the most vulnerable and fed fish to those able to swim
Another dose of outrage from the sunshine state.
2
posted on
03/31/2005 2:53:36 PM PST
by
wasp69
("You're done, Rather! No more 'Divine Right of Kings'!" - Oliver "Buckhead" Cromwell (sorta)
To: St. Johann Tetzel; .45MAN; AAABEST; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; annalex; ...
At least five calves were among the stranded, whose plight spawned an outpouring of local assistance Thursday. ...a crush of volunteers prompted coordinators to set up a separate registration post a few miles away.
A range of helpers, from retirees to local service workers, gently held blowholes above water and kept dolphin heads moist.
''I was holding a baby earlier and it shivered and threw up and then it died,'' said Ron Whitson, a Marathon retiree. ``I felt really bad.''
''People came down because they care,'' said Steve Gainen, a dolphin trainer who ventured south from Florida City. ``These creatures are in trouble.''
A crush of volunteers in Florida, to Save the Dolphins, with feeding tubes if necessary.
The [demonic] irony isn't lost on anyone, is it?
God, Do not grant us that which we truly deserve.
Lord, Have Mercy upon us.
3
posted on
03/31/2005 2:56:04 PM PST
by
St. Johann Tetzel
(Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Biologists extracted blood samples and examined the animals to try to determine what caused the rough-toothed dolphins to beach en masse about 52 miles northeast of Key West.
Dolphins have no Right to Die?
God, Do not grant us that which we truly deserve.
Lord, Have Mercy upon us.
Amen.
4
posted on
03/31/2005 3:04:24 PM PST
by
Askel5
(† Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Did the federal judges approve of this? That is the burning question on everyones mind.
5
posted on
03/31/2005 3:08:53 PM PST
by
BipolarBob
(Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
To: St. Johann Tetzel
I am so heartily sickened.
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Should we upchuck now or later? This is so disgusting. It's similar to the event in CA a couple of years ago when a woman was killed by a wildcat and the cat's kittens received more donations than her kids.
8
posted on
03/31/2005 4:42:12 PM PST
by
livius
To: St. Johann Tetzel
9
posted on
03/31/2005 8:05:11 PM PST
by
Siobhan
(Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Gee, did any PETA people show up risking arrest to free Terri? [sarcasm/irony]Too busy helping chickens and clams probably.
To: St. Johann Tetzel; Lijahsbubbe; Yehuda; Alouette; dennisw; BearWash; Prophet in the wilderness; ...
Volunteers in wet suits used feeding tubes to hydrate the most vulnerable... Too bad Terri wasn't a dolphin, the poor dear.
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Volunteers in wet suits used feeding tubes to hydrate the most vulnerable and fed fish to those able to swim, their dorsal fins affixed with red tags and numbers. Kinda in-your-face priorities aren't they?
12
posted on
03/31/2005 10:04:27 PM PST
by
Smokin' Joe
(Repeal the NFA of '34! the GCA of '68! and the '86 ban!)
Comment #13 Removed by Moderator
To: St. Johann Tetzel
Maybe I am in Bizzaro world.
We starve innocent people, yet feed beached dolphins.
What happened? Where did justice go?
Part of me just hopes I am in a long nasty dream.
14
posted on
04/01/2005 6:03:58 AM PST
by
redgolum
("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
To: St. Johann Tetzel
15
posted on
04/05/2005 5:58:49 PM PDT
by
cyn
(it's sarcasm, but Jim King really said it.)
To: Thinkin' Gal
h'mm... Felos' Litigation as Spiritual Practice was published by Blue Dolphin Publishing, 2002
Elian told of dolphins swimming with him after his mother drowned -- he was alone for hours except for them.
Is there any bright spot in this awful situation?
16
posted on
04/05/2005 6:51:57 PM PDT
by
cyn
(it's sarcasm, but Jim King really said it.)
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