A bottlenose dolphin rescued by the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network is currently under close watch at a rehabilitation facility in Gulfport, Mississippi. ALMMSN responded to a call for a live dolphin in distress on Dauphin Island’s west end public beach Friday, April 11.

ALMMSN Veterinarian Dr. Cat Vendl and Stranding Coordinator Mackenzie Russell conducted a health assessment on the young male bottlenose dolphin in coordination with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and determined immediate intervention and rescue was needed. The dolphin was nearly seven feet long and weighed about 180 pounds, which is considered underweight.

“When dolphins strand or beach themselves, they are usually doing so because they are sick or injured,” said Russell.

ALMMSN staff and volunteers safely stabilized the dolphin and administered emergency medical treatment. The dolphin was transported to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi with the support of staff and veterinarians from IMMS and the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The dolphin’s condition is stable, but guarded and under veterinary care. The ALMMSN team is cautiously optimistic about the dolphin’s prognosis, however, it remains unclear why this young dolphin stranded.

Russell added, “We are very thankful to the members of the public who reported this dolphin, as well as our ALMMSN volunteers, staff with the West End Beach Ambassador program and the IMMS/MSU CVM staff who made this rescue possible.”

Rapid reporting increases the chances of survival for stranded marine mammals. If you see a sick, injured or dead marine mammal in Alabama waters, DO NOT PUSH IT BACK into the water, please immediately call ALMMSN at 1-877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343).

If you would like to make a donation to support marine mammal stranding response in Alabama email ALMMSN@disl.edu or donate to ALMMSN through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation.