Gulf World Marine Park Gulf World Marine Park News

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wensleydale

Well-Known Member
I'm on a thread starting roll!

Two pieces of big news, one good, one bad:

First, the bad news is that the Co-owner of the park passed away unexpectedly.

Gulf World co-owner dies at 65, ?never met a stranger? - News - The News Herald

Memorial Service Plans For Gulf World Marine Park's Brad Miller

The good news is that there is a new baby Rough Toothed Dolphin. Baby Rough Tooth (he will be named when he is a month old) is the calf of Astro and Doris, both of whom are rescues. Gulf World is the only place in North America where Rough Toothed Dolphins are housed. All of them appear to have been rescues. Astro deemed non releasable due to partial hearing loss, and had spinal curvature problems. I don't know why Doris is non releasable. Hopefully Astro's deafness isn't hereditary. However he was an adult at the time of rescue, so this may have been the result of something in the environment. However there doesn't seem to be an ambitious breeding program taking place. I get the impression that this just happened.

New Baby Dolphin At Gulf World Marine Park

Astro's rescue page:

TMMSN-Rescue and Rehabilitation
 
This is excellent news! I was just there a couple weeks earlier to interact with the rough-tooths and inquire about the program. I don’t remember why Doris was deemed unreleasable but I think it may have been due to her young age at the time. Astro’s deafness was caused during his stranding and should not be hereditary. I asked about a possible breeding program since the park has 2 young adult males and 3 young adult females and they are the only park in the world with the species besides a facility in the Philippines that has one individual left. The staff said they didn’t have an intentional breeding program at the moment because the species had never bred in captivity before yet, but that they didn’t prevent the dolphins from mating and would be delighted to have a calf as it would be a new record and interesting research and husbandry opportunity. So happy to have positive news for a change! Hopefully the calf makes it – being a first born calf his chances are lower and the video states he wasn’t nursing properly and is receiving additional 24 hour supportive care from Gulf World staff. The father Astro is a real sweetheart and loves massages. Best of luck to Gulf World! If the calf thrives I’ll return sooner to see him.
 
I'm thrilled about this calf. It's a real opportunity to learn more about the development of the Rough Toothed Dolphin from birth onwards! I sincerely hope that he makes it and that we get to see him grow. Apparently they have interbred with bottlenose dolphins in captivity in the past, however I do not believe that any of these hybrids are still alive.
 
Tragically, according to Gulf World's Facebook page, the rough-toothed dolphin calf did not survive. Preliminary necropsy findings indicate the calf had a pulmonary abscess. This is sad, especially since the staff had improved his nursing difficulties with 24 hour care. The survival rate for first born calves of whales and dolphins is naturally really low, so there was cautious optimism about the health of the calf to begin with (hence why they didn't want to name him until he was older). They also announced that they will continue tests to determine what caused the abscess.

Another article citing the announcement: Gulf World Marine Park Mourns Dolphin Death

Hopefully next time will be more successful. It's wonderful that the park is giving these rescued animals a chance to reproduce in addition to giving them a second chance on life.
 
I hope that next time things go better too. I wish they had gone better this time Next time we'll know more, God willing it will be easier for the next calf. Plus both of her parents went through a lot before they arrived at Gulf World, I wonder if that has any effect on the health of any offspring they might have.

I know that humans have to get tested for various bacteria during pregnancies, then be put on IV antibiotics once labor starts in order to keep from passing it on the baby. I wonder if a similar discovery will someday be made with dolphins.
 
Two exciting new arrivals

First, the park has received a new Sea Lion, a rescue from the unusual mortality event in California. He is one year old and has yet to be named, I expect he might eventually be involved in the Rough Toothed Dolphin and Sea Lion show they have.

Gulf World's Newest Addition

Also, a juvenile female Bottlenose Dolphin is rehabbing at Gulf World following her rescue on June 28. She has a lungworm infection, pneumonia as a result of aspirating sand, and is anemic.

UPDATED Stranded Dolphin Rehabbing at Gulf World

She has been given the name "Halo" because she was found with a halo of people around her.

Beached Dolphin Gets Medical Attention at Gulf World
 
Gulf World recently posted a video on their male Rough Toothed Dolphin Astro and his unique medical needs. He was initially a rescue who stranded on a beach in Texas and deemed non releasable due to hearing loss. He also has scoliosis and the video highlights the treatments he receives for it on a daily basis. He came to Gulf World with the condition; according to his rescue page on the TMMSN he developed it within 24 hours of his rescue. His scoliosis does not impair him in his daily life. He is clearly quite a character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA2pf5mLmAw

I never knew the curve in his spine was that severe, before I say this video I imagined it as a polite little wiggle, not the giant, obvious s shape he actually has.

Halo the Dolphin, who stranded in June is doing much better.
 
wensleydale said:
Gulf World recently posted a video on their male Rough Toothed Dolphin Astro and his unique medical needs. He was initially a rescue who stranded on a beach in Texas and deemed non releasable due to hearing loss. He also has scoliosis and the video highlights the treatments he receives for it on a daily basis. He came to Gulf World with the condition; according to his rescue page on the TMMSN he developed it within 24 hours of his rescue. His scoliosis does not impair him in his daily life. He is clearly quite a character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA2pf5mLmAw

I never knew the curve in his spine was that severe, before I say this video I imagined it as a polite little wiggle, not the giant, obvious s shape he actually has.

Halo the Dolphin, who stranded in June is doing much better.
Click to expand...

I didn't know dolphins could even get scoliosis. Interesting.
 
Halo, who was rescued by Gulf World in June 2015 has been declared non releasable and will be staying on for life. She was a juvenile at the time of her rescue and suffered from aspiration pneumonia due to sand aspiration, as well as various parasites. She has been introduced to two Mother and Calf pairs, including Luna and her new calf. So far she is adjusting well:

http://www.newsherald.com/news/20160225/stranded-dolphin-to-remain-at-gulf-world
 
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