Swept from aquarium pool, dolphins found alive offshore (Boston Globe)

[VolcanoJen]

http://www.boston.com/news/weather/articles/2005/09/14/swept_from_aquarium_pool_dolphins_found_alive_offshore/

A little bit of good news. :-)

Excerpt:

Eight bottlenose dolphins that were washed out of their Mississippi aquarium pool during Hurricane Katrina have been found alive, huddled together in the fetid waters off Gulfport, Miss. Now, deeply worried about the dolphins' chances of survival, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials and aquarium biologists are racing to rescue the weak and wounded animals -- some of which have never before ventured into the wild.

''These animals found us, they came back after Katrina . . . they came home," said Moby Solangi, director of the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport. ''All eight are together. It's the most wonderful news."

Established in 1956, the facility suffered catastrophic damage in the storm. Along with the dolphins, 19 sea lions were swept out of their pools when a giant storm surge engulfed the Oceanarium. Five of them are missing.

<<<snip>>>

''I think one of the in the helicopter had to be restrained from jumping down to be with them," said Solangi, whose staff has since been feeding the animals fish and antibiotics by boat to build up their strength. He believes the dolphins will be strong enough in about two days to be rescued. Trainers are working with the dolphins to have them jump up on a float that can be towed toward shore.

''They totally perked up and are just delighted to see" the trainers, he said.

Five of the dolphins know how to forage for food in the wild. Three captive-bred animals -- Tony, Eli, and Noah -- have never fared for themselves.

[Marnieworld]

1. Wow!

It's amazingly beautiful that they all stayed together and that they remained close to their home. I really hope they recover.

[htuttle]

7. Dolphins are very social animals

They have close family and 'tribal' ('podal'?) ties.

(and brains as large as yours or mine...and much LARGER than George Bush's)

[Radio_Lady]

25. I had the chance to "swim" with the dolphins on the Big Island,

Hawaii.

Here's a photo of two cute kids doing the same...

It was a pretty neat experience.

http://www.vacationidea.com/articles/gallery/hilton_waikoloa_village_Gallery4.html

[mike_c]

2. wow....

One of the rescuers had to be restrained from jumping out of the helicopter. That is amazing.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. You get a feeling of the joy the must have felt

We've seen far too little of this recently. It's a pleasant change of pace. :)

[mindfulNJ]

3. This just makes me happy.

Hope they all make it.:)

[TomPainesBones]

5. Same here!

Great story.

[henslee]

12. Breaks my heart at the same time too. Wish we were nicer to all animales.

[mark11727]

4. Some say that dolphins have intelligence rivaling humans'...

... after Katrina struck, they probably thought, "now, what the hell was THAT...?"

[AllegroRondo]

9. and more intelligent than Freepers

no dolphin ever voted for Bush.

[TheWraith]

13. Paraphrasing a line from a book

"Humans always believed that they were more intelligent than dolphins, because they had created civilization, literature, nuclear bombs, and packaged sweetner, whereas the dolphins had just stayed in the water and played. The dolphins, in turn, thought that they were more intelligent than humans, for exactly the same reasons."

[geniph]

14. "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

[Radio_Lady]

17. TheWraith, is this a real quote from a real book?

If so, I'd like to know where it comes from. Sounds like "Animal Farm" but I read that about a THOUSAND YEARS ago.

[pitohui]

18. you're joking right

:-)

the answer is 42

[Radio_Lady]

20. Sorry, are you talking to me? What does 42 have to do with it?

I'm just sitting here eating an avocado and the lines are mixed up.

[Nihil]

28. Your avocado has lines on it?

"42" is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything as provided by
the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe" in the Douglas Adams series of
the same name.

"So long and thanks for all the fish" is a later book.

(You can follow a whole chain of references, book summaries and bits at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_Life%2C_the_Universe%2C_and_Everything)

[LostinVA]

32. hehehehehhehehhe....

We Doug Adams fans get it, trust me!

[reprobate]

41. We certainly do. Although one of Zaphod Beeblebrox's.......

....faces looks a bit confused.

But then Zaphod is a contradiction himsself.

[yorkiemommie1]

43. i love this quote

thanks!

[Wordie]

8. Nice to hear this good news, and thanks for posting this. Nominated.

I had wondered about the aquarium reports; stands to reason that some sea creatures would be able to escape. Dolphins are remarkable - so glad they are expected to be ok, and the sea lions too. Hope other creatures as well have made it and are faring well.

One of the most positive aspects of humanity is that we are able to care about creatures outside our own species. Would that all of us be able to care about our own as well. We would be far better off than we are now.

Edited for clarity and to add nomination.

[Judi Lynn]

10. It's a very bright spot in a desperately sad picture.

I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be happy to know these loving creatures are safe now after being hurled into the void.

[applegrove]

11. Sweet. We need stories like this. About the goodness & fellowship

of mankind.

[intheflow]

15. This is just great news.

I've been working with evacuees all day, trying to track down lost friends and family. No luck on my end. It's nice to hear the aqaurium workers were able to find their "family" members today.

[pitohui]

16. good to know

so glad to hear this

i was worried

i hope they come thru ok, esp. the captive breds

they are so sweet!

[caligirl]

19. Just so amazing that they were found and that they stayed together.

I would have jumped out to be with them too. I have a giant schnauzer that I love nearly as much as my kids. Last night my son said "Its official, he is spoiled rotten", can't help it.

If there is one thing I know I have to do it is to get my earthquake supplies assembled. I plan to include stocking up on dog food and other supplies to last a month.

Just hope the hayward fault stays put this year.

[reprobate]

36. Don't know about Giants, but if they are anything like the miniatures.....

...he must be a joy.

I have come to the conclusion that schnauzers are the designated comedians of the species Cannus.

We have had miniature schnauzers for the past 25 years. Interesting and funfilled years.

[caligirl]

37. You DO know schnauzers, ours likes bubble wrap, barks at the night air

to announce himself to all, and yes he is a laid back comedian. He is a creature of habit, must eat at 4 everyday. He is a leaner and beautiful too.
If you would like to see his dad you can go to Skansens kennel on line and look at Superman. Giants and minis are similar in personality I am told. I haven't owned a mini, but have owned a standard and two giants.

[The_Casual_Observer]

21. Bless these little gifts. I hope that they pull through OK.

[roguevalley]

22. poor sweet angels, huddling together. reminds me of a

litter of puppies. I don't know how much more of this shit I can stand. God bless the beasts and the children. I hope these babies become well again. God help the five seals missing. Between Katrina and Florida builders burying turtles in the foundations of their buildings by permit, I could go to sleep and not wake up again.

[UrbScotty]

23. Thanks for the reminder that there is good news.

;-)

[Coventina]

24. I hadn't heard about this previously. Now I'm crying tears of joy.

I'm so glad they survived and were able to stick together.

:cry:
:hug:
:grouphug:

[leftchick]

26. They were just shown on Anderson Cooper's show

:cry: swimming in that gawd awful water. :cry:

They will try and retrieve at least a few of them tomorrow and Cooper will have it on his show.

[AwakeAtLast]

27. I was there in March, and have been wondering about them since Katrina

Thanks so much for posting this! I knew they would have been defenseless to the storm, and my heart was heavy at the thought of what would happen to them outside of the Oceanarium. So glad that some were found alive! I am amazed!

[VolcanoJen]

29. late-night dolphin kick!

[Piperay]

30. Aw those sweet dolphins

all staying together :cry: glad they will have a happy ending.:)

[Judi Lynn]

31. Could you stand some good news about a whale calf?

Entangled Whale Calf Frees Itself

By MARY PEMBERTON
Associated Press Writer

September 14, 2005, 9:58 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A humpback whale calf entangled in crab pot gear for days near Juneau apparently got itself loose, a federal fisheries biologist said Wednesday.

"It is very good news when an animal can free itself," said Aleria Jensen, a biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The calf was first spotted Friday where Chatham Strait and Peril Strait come together south of Juneau. The calf's mother wasn't caught in the fishing gear, but had stayed close to the calf.

Several people, including experts in how to disentangle whales who just happened to be attending a two-day workshop on marine mammal strandings in nearby Gustavus, set out Wednesday morning to free the calf, Jensen said.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-entangled-whale,0,7314057.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Kool Kitty]

44. Wow! That is good news.

Nice to see some, 'cos good news is in real short supply these days. Thanks for posting this!

[goforit]

33. WOW!!!.....Real Humane humanity at work. God bless those dolphins!

[Occulus]

34. They'll find the three who didn't know how to forage in the wild

very likely now DO know, thanks to the other five teaching them how- which almost certainly happened.

At least this is good news, and at least they're all alive.

[Kukesa]

35. Kick for some good news! n/t

[jwirr]

38. These beautiful dolphins and that mother whale sure

could teach humanity something about survival. I think Ben Franklin knew about it also "We must hang together or we will all hang separately." These are heart warming stories.

[Skittles]

39. "Our hopes that one day soon we will communicate with dolphins"

"Our fears they will cuss like sailors"


Jack Handey, SNL

[pansypoo53219]

40. even more good news.

most of the otters have been located in neighborhood pools.

[GainesT1958]

42. The primates of the sea...

These guys want to be back with their human friends...and I'll bet that desire will help sustain them until they can be herded back to the aquarium. God bless them!:D

B-)

[Captain Hilts]

45. What about the 4 dolphins put in the swimming pool BEFORE the storm? nt

[LeftyMom]

48. They made it through fine

I don't have a link but that was reported in the immediate aftermath if I recall correctly.

[fujiyama]

46. Dolphins are amazing creatures

and are very smart. Great story in an otherwise difficult situation. Hope thhey pull thru.

[VolcanoJen]

47. Dolphin story coming up on Aaron Brown's repeat, CNN late night!

A good dose of nature triumphing over nature seems like the best tonic, to me. :-)

[Kukesa]

50. And it was a wonderful story! n/t

[wakeme2008]

49. BBC update

Wildlife experts say they have rescued two dolphins swept away from their aquarium after Hurricane Katrina, and hope to save another six.

Jackie, who is 30 years old, and her offspring, Toni, 16, were picked off the coast of Mississippi on Thursday.

The animals were sighted in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday after being washed from their aquarium in Gulfport.

The bottlenose dolphins have lived most of their lives in captivity and cannot fend for themselves in the wild.

...more http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4248178.stm