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More Rescued Dolphins Arrive at Gulfport Seabee Base
Story Number: NNS050922-01
Release Date: 9/22/2005 10:28:00 AM
By Journalist 3rd Class Chris Gethings, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs Detachment Gulfport
GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Four Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins were brought to Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport Sept. 20 after being found off the coast of Biloxi, Miss.
The dolphins were forced into the Gulf of Mexico when Hurricane Katrina destroyed their beachfront home at the Marine Life Oceanarium. They were recovered in a joint effort by the U.S. Navy, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), and other federal and local organizations.
Four other displaced dolphins belonging to Marine Life Oceanarium were rescued Sept. 17.
"We were all a little worried about the dolphins when they didn't show up for their feeding," said Shannon Huyser, training supervisor with IMMS. "They've been in our care for so long, and I don't think they'd survive out in the wild."
U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program personnel are now supporting equipment for all eight Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins in a facility at NCBC Gulfport. The facility contains three portable saltwater pools, along with temperature control and filtration equipment for the pools.
"The added dolphins not only doubles the workload on us, but also on our equipment," said Scott Price, operations and resources coordinator with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. "This is just what we do, though. The government deploys dolphins all over the world, and our job is to provide and maintain the equipment to sustain them. We could do this exact same thing in the middle of the desert if needed."
Price and his crew set up a fourth 10,000-gallon portable saltwater pool, which will contain pre-mixed saltwater to replenish water from the other three tanks, so new water doesn't have to be mixed in the same tank the dolphins are living in.
"It's just more comfortable for the dolphins this way," Price explained.
"I think [the Navy] was extremely prompt and effective in helping us meet our needs here," said Moby Solangi, president of both IMMS and Marine Life Oceanarium. "I'm not surprised at all. We've been working closely and very well with the Navy Marine Mammal Program for 30 years."
IMMS will send personnel with the dolphins wherever they go, and said they fully intend to house their dolphins in Gulfport again after they rebuild their facilities.
For the latest Navy news on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/hurricane/.
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