1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Ph: (941) 388-4441
Hours: 10AM - 5PM
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Age Class | Adult |
Gender | Male |
Date Stranded | October 29, 2003 |
Location of Stranding | Nassau Sound, Florida, near Jacksonville |
Date of Arrival | October 29, 2003 |
Number of Days of Care | 134 |
Release into Nassau Sound on 12 March 2004
Jack on arrival.
10/31 This dolphin was found floating in a river in Nassau County, Florida, near Jacksonville and was transported to Mote by SeaWorld staff. He was bloated with gas in his stomach and intestinal tract and was badly sunburned over his dorsal surface from being afloat. He has pneumonia, gastritis, enteritis, and parasites in his sinuses and GI tract. We have started him on antibiotics and fluids. Prognosis is very guarded at this time.
11/1 Gastric ulcers and anemia were diagnosed this morning and he has been started on treatment for them. Dolphin appears somewhat better today, breathing better and the bloating is subsiding somewhat.
11/2 Dolphin is greatly improved today, making some swimming attempts and much less bloating. Severe burns are somewhat painful, so he has been placed on medication for the pain. We are beginning to offer whole fish and he shows some interest, but not yet eating. Dehydration is somewhat improved.
11/3 Much to our surprise, the dolphin has survived the weekend and is actually improving very quickly. He is swimming on his own for 10-15 minutes at a time and is starting to eat solid food on his own. His white count is down and most of his other bloodwork is also improving.
11/5 Dolphin is now swimming full-time and is eating all the solid food that we offer him. His burns are healing well and he seems to be responding to all treatments.
11/6 Continued improvement.
11/7 Continuing to improve daily.
11/9 Dolphin continues to eat very well. We continue to treat the wounds on his side, but overall, he is doing very well.
11/11 This morning the dolphin was sedated, removed from his tank, and had his wounds debrided. A large amount of dead tissue was removed from two large wounds. A third wound on his left pectoral fin may cause more problems. The shoulder joint is very close to being involved. We hope that it will not become involved. A wound in his mouth was also debrided and treated. Otherwise, the dolphin is doing great and eating very well.
11/13 Wounds are healing much better and white count is going down. Appetite remains excellent.
11/16 Continues to improve daily.
11/18 Exam this morning went very well. White count is now normal. Wounds are improving and dolphin is gaining weight (about 13 pounds in the last week).
11/20 Continuing to improve daily.
11/23 More activity and good appetite.
11/27 Increasingly more active each day. Still gaining weight (about 1 pound per day).
12/3 Continues to do very well. Blood work is all normal and we have taken him off most drugs. Intestinal and gastric infection and pneumonia are completely gone. Wounds continue to heal well.
12/8 Dolphin has been moved into the refurbished critical care tank to provide him with deeper water. He is doing well in it and continues to eat well. Plan to offer live prey this week.
12/22 Wounds are healing very well and he is gaining weight well.
12/31 Dolphin continues to do very well and wounds are healing well.
1/5 Blood work this morning was very good. Dolphin continues to gain weight and wounds are closing fast.
1/15 Dolphin continues to improve and gain weight.
1/28 Dolphin's wounds are almost completely healed. He has developed mild pneumonia, but is responding to treatment.
2/8 Pneumonia is gone and doing very well.
2/13 Blood values this morning were excellent. We will be applying for release in the next few days and hope to be able to release the dolphin by mid-March.
2/19 Dolphin continues to do very well. He was freeze branded this week in preparation for release soon.
3/5 Dolphin has been approved for release next week and plans are underway to release him back near Jacksonville. He will be tracked via VHF transmitter for about one month to insure that he returns to a normal life in the wild.
3/11 We have final clearance to release the dolphin tomorrow near the original stranding site. Hospital staff and volunteers will be assisted by staff from the Mote Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the release and follow-up tracking.
3/12 Jack was transported to the Amelia Island area this morning for release. The transport went very well. The release was good until the dolphin ran aground on a sandbar and had to be helped off. After that, he did very well and is being tracked (see photo below).
3/13 Dolphin moved over 9 miles during the first day of tracking and he was observed interacting and playing with a large group of dolphins.
3/14 Jack was tracked again yesterday and had moved 20 miles south along the coast from the evening before. He was in a group of other dolphins that were playing and breaching.
3/16 The plan is now to track the dolphin via airplane twice weekly. The weather yesterday was too bad to fly, so the next attempt will be this Thursday.
3/18 Dolphin was located today about 100 miles south of last location in a group of at least 30 other dolphins (see photo below). Obviously, he is doing well. We will continue tracking him by air.
3/24 We planned to fly yesterday, but the wind was too high to allow for adequate tracking. Will try again on Saturday.
3/31 Were unable to locate the dolphin on Saturday, but found him yesterday another 100+ miles south of his last location. Could not get close enough to see the dolphin, however. Will fly again on Friday.
4/4 Could not find the dolphin, most likely due to transmitter failure as it was time for the battery to fail. All indications are that dolphin has readjusted to life in the wild.
Dolphin with healed wounds ready for release and after release with transmitter attached to dorsal fin
Aerial view during tracking of dolphin interacting with group (photo by B. Balmer)
Throughout the month of March, Mote Aquarium experiences high daily visitation volume with many timed ticketed entry slots selling out. Guests are highly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance in order to guarantee entry.
Mote Aquarium is open seven days a week at our normal hours, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. We hope to SEA you soon!