One of 7 rescued dolphins dies - Florida

SARASOTA, Fl., 12 August, 2004 - The death came as a surprise to
experts since the dolphin was considered one of the healthiest upon
arrival at a Sarasota rehabilitation facility.

One of seven surviving dolphins from last week's disastrous beaching
on Hutchinson Island died Monday night at Mote Marine Laboratory
Dolphin and Whale Hospital in Sarasota.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

"We believe that there was both some heart and lung problems," said
staff veterinarian Tonya Clauss.

The death came as a surprise to Mote staff, since the dolphin was
considered one of the healthiest upon arrival at the facility. A
necropsy was performed on the mammal Tuesday, but results will not be
known for a few weeks.

The seven rough-toothed dolphins first washed ashore Friday afternoon
on Hutchinson Island, north of Jensen Beach, in the first recorded
mass stranding of the deep-water species on Florida's East Coast.
After a restranding farther north on Walton Rocks Beach, the dolphins
were transported to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution near Fort
Pierce. They were transferred late Sunday to Mote in a refrigerated
18-wheeler truck donated by Publix Supermarkets and arrived at 1 a.m.
Monday for rehabilitation.

Nicknamed by staff after Snow White's seven dwarfs, the six male
dolphins and one female were receiving round-the-clock care when
"Grumpy," a male, took a turn for the worst at 10 p.m. Monday. Staff
members noted the mammal's sudden changes in behavior, indicating he
was in distress.

Emergency medications were given to the dolphin, but he died within
minutes.

The six remaining dolphins will stay at Mote, where they are all
considered to be in critical condition, until they are healthy enough
to be released, Clauss said.

"They're all doing at least OK," she said. "We're still hopeful, and
they are all on antibiotics and gastrointestinal protectants and
fluids. And we're gradually offering them more food."

Each dolphin has a "50-50" chance of survival, Clauss said. If the
dolphins survive, they will be released together 100 miles offshore in
the Atlantic Ocean. They must be in deep water to survive the release,
Clauss said.

Thirty other dolphins were euthanized by lethal injection last week
after Friday's mass stranding. The six healthiest were taken to Harbor
Branch for specialized care, and a seventh washed up Sunday morning
near the St. Lucie Power Plant, four miles north of the original
strandings.

( source : http://www.tcpalm.com )