Baby Bottlenose Dolphin rescued, cared for at Mote Marine Laboratory Sarasota

Written by Rori on 14 January 2011

An estimated 6 month old baby male Bottlenose dolphin was spotted stranded on Sanibel Island's Ding Darling Refuge. Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory.

An estimated six months old and a mere 55” long and 90 pounds, a baby male Bottlenose dolphin was rescued in the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Taken to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital Thursday January 13th, 2011, the little guy – nicknamed “Taz” – is already showing signs of improvement.

Taz had been spotted in shallow water along a sandbar by a member of the public who contacted Refuge staff who in turn reported the stranding to Florida’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC rescued Taz & transferred him to Mote in Sarasota for evaluation and rehabilitation.

The baby dolphin’s mother was not spotted and why he stranded was not certain.

The baby dolphin, nicknamed Taz, was transported to Mote Marine Lab's Dolphin & Whale Hospital in Sarasota. Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory.

Dolphin caves need their mothers to learn to eat and hunt, plus learn to navigate and for protection, staying with them for their first 3 – 6 years.

Taz has been placed in a medical pool with Mote’s animal care staff and volunteers providing fluids and basic medical care and exam. As of today (Friday January 14, 2011) Taz is swimming on his own and showing good energy. His formula is a specially designed concoction to provide the baby dolphin the proper nutrition.

Once Taz is more stable, he’ll be given a more thorough veterinary exam.

Mote staff & volunteers helped Taz slowly swim, providing basic medical care. Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory.

The public, if they wish to help, can make donations for Taz’s care online at www.mote.org/taz and can follow his treatment online at www.mote.org/tazcare – and for more on Mote Marine Laboratory, visit them at www.mote.org.