Ariel's last day in New York, February 21, 2007...
Ariel was transported to Florida on February 21, 2007, via plane. (Photo: Ariel in the transport crate being loaded on the plane, photo credit: Joe Dlhopolsky)
The trip lasted approximately four hours (Photo: Plane with Ariel on board taking off at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, NY.) Photo credit: Joe Dlhopolsky
Ariel's temporary tank where she will soon be joined by a young female bottlenose dolphin (photo credit: Derek DiDonato of Florida's Gulfarium).
Ariel in her new tank interacting with the EEDs very similar to the ones she had at the Riverhead Foundation (photo credit: Derek DiDonato of Florida's Gulfarium).
Photo credit: Derek DiDonato of Florida's Gulfarium.
Ariel's story
On September 27, 2006 (Wednesday), the Riverhead Foundation was alerted to a sighting of two dolphins swimming at a marina in Sag Harbor, NY. Upon arrival on scene Rebecca Scott, a Riverhead Foundation biologist, identified the animals as a pair of bottlenose dolphins, most likely a mother and a calf since one animal was significantly larger than the other one. The animals were free swimming right next to each other but further observations of the swimming pattern and behavior indicated that the larger animal was in distress. One of the onlookers also reported seeing the larger dolphin in very shallow water earlier that day. Even though bottlenose dolphins generally enter small bays and harbors, the dolphins that are encountered in New York are an offshore form, for which a place like the marina would be considered out of habitat. The offshore bottlenose dolphins inhabit pelagic waters of the continental shelf edge and slope.
A decision was made to monitor the animals for the next 24 hours. The next morning the Sag Harbor Police informed the Riverhead Foundation that the animals were still in the same area and were now swimming in tight circles in-between two boat slips.
The red circle and the arrow indicate the location of the dolphins and the rescue site.
Ariel and her mother at the Sag Harbor Yacht Club.
After monitoring the animals for another few hours and after consulting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries the decision was made to remove both dolphins from the marina and transport them to the Riverhead Foundation’s rehabilitation facility. Planning for removal took into consideration the safety risks to the in water capture team. The Riverhead Foundation staff is grateful to the Bridgehampton Volunteer Ambulance Company for having their equipment and personnel on scene during the rescue. A plan of action was set in place and at approximately 5:45 PM the Riverhead Foundation staff and volunteers with support from the Sag Harbor Police Department (Chief Thomas Fabiano, Officer Jeff Proctor, Lt. Thomas Mackey, Detective Paul Fabiano, Traffic Control Officer James Salazar), Sag Harbor Yacht Club staff (Les Black), Ship Ashore Marina (the owner, Rick Pickering, provided the crane) and the local community, began one of the hardest rescues they were ever faced with.
The Riverhead Foundation staff and volunteers, with the help of seine nets, herded the dolphins into a smaller area.
First the younger animal (later named Ariel), pictured on the photograph above, and then the mother, were secured in the water and placed onto a specialized stretcher.
Both animals were lifted out of the water and placed in the Riverhead Foundation’s dolphin transport vehicle donated by Hawkeye Construction.
As soon as Ariel and her mother were ready for transport the door of the dolphin ambulance closed and the rescue team, cheered by numerous volunteers and the local community, left the marina and headed for Riverhead.
During the transport Ariel stayed calm and her breathing rate was regular and stable. She was also constantly communicating with her mother by producing a series of audible whistles. The mother, however, was displaying signs of distress and despite efforts of the medical staff she died soon after arrival at the facility. Ariel, following a short medical assessment, was placed in the dolphin rehabilitation tank. She did not require support from the biologists to stay afloat and navigated the tank well. Within 10 minutes the biologists were removed from the tank and monitored Ariel’s swimming and breathing from the poolside.
For the next day Ariel was tube fed liquids and fish slurry. Each treatment required four to five biologists to enter the tank to capture Ariel, secure her in the stretcher and perform the feeding procedure. Some additional medical samples were also collected at that time. Ariel’s initial weight was 97 kilograms (213.4 lbs) and she was 203 cm (6.7 feet) long. In an attempt to lessen her stress level staff have routinely entered the tank for interaction session.
Just like Rocky and Titan, a Risso’s dolphin and a harbor porpoise rehabilitated by the Riverhead Foundation, Ariel is interacting with people and objects placed in her tank for enrichment.
Within 24 hours Ariel was showing signs of interest in fish. Even though she was given fluids all day Friday, she immediately went after capelin thrown into her tank. She grabbed it in her mouth but did not swallow. The following morning though she began eating herring on her own.
For the first couple of days Ariel was given fluids and fish gruel. Then she was force-fed and right after the treatment she began eating fish on her own!
On Monday, Columbus Day, the Riverhead Foundation team of veterinary staff and biologists performed a physical examination on Ariel. The initial capture was quick and easy and Ariel was placed in the stretcher for the duration of the treatment, suspended partially in the water. Dr. Rich Hanusch, one of the Riverhead Foundation’s veterinarians, collected a blood sample and examined Ariel’s abrasions on the peduncle (tail stock) and flukes. Other samples that were collected included blowhole and anal cultures, which will be examined for bacterial content. The biologists also weighed Ariel, took her length and girth. These measurements will be used to monitor Ariel’s growth rates and body condition throughout her stay at the Riverhead Foundation. The animal care team also collected a stomach sample for analysis.
Dr. Rich Hanusch collecting a blood sample.
Ariel stayed calm throughout the procedure, reacting only to the insertion of the feeding tube for the stomach sample collection. As soon as the treatment was over and Ariel was let out of the stretcher, she began rubbing and interacting with the animal care staff still present in the tank. She was also offered fish right away, which she consumed eagerly.
The medical samples were sent out to Antech Laboratories for analysis. Since Ariel initially lost some weight her daily food intake was increased to meet the caloric requirements of a young bottlenose dolphin. Her diet consists mostly of herring, which is rich in fat content, but squid and capelin are also used in small amounts, mostly for enrichment sessions.
Ariel continues to interact well with the staff entering her tank for enrichment. She makes physical contact with people and seems to be showing interest in various objects placed into her tank. She vocalizes frequently by producing different whistles and is often seen blowing small bubbles from her blowhole underwater.
October 22, 2006
Ariel continues to do well. She eats very eagerly and the staff and volunteers have recently started using herring, capelin and squid as part of Ariel's enrichment. In-between regular feeds, fish is sometimes introduced in form of a "fish-cicle" that gives Ariel many minutes of play and stimulation (see video below).
October 28, 2006
Ariel continues to be active and is showing more and more interest in the Environmental Enrichment Objects (EEDs). She is often seen rubbing against the ropes and corrugated plastic pipes stretched across her tank. The biologists also frequently observe Ariel swimming through a hula-hoop with half of her body and then dragging it around the tank. The hula-hoop usually sits in-between the front flippers and the dorsal fin or at the very end of the tail by the flukes. Ariel also interacts with the staff and volunteers that enter her tank for enrichment sessions. She usually approaches them right away and lets them rub her head, chin, body, as well as the fins and the flukes. She often turns on her side or up side down during the interactions. Her recent routine medical treatment revealed that the wounds on the peduncle (tail stock) are healing well and that Ariel gained 24 lbs in the last couple of weeks!
October 31, 2006
The enrichment sessions are as interactive for Ariel as they are for the staff and volunteers!
November 20, 2006
This past Tuesday, November 14, 2006 the Riverhead Foundation staff performed a routine medical assessment of Ariel. The treatment went very well and Ariel remained calm during the whole time letting the medical team collect biological samples such as blood and microbiological samples from the blowhole and stomach. The biologists also checked Ariel's weight, which showed a weight gain of over 16 lbs since the last treatment on October 24, 2006. Ariel's weight has increased by 33 lbs since her rescue to the delight of staff and volunteers.
The analysis of Ariel's blood sample revealed all values within normal ranges and, as a result, the Riverhead Foundation's medical staff discontinued antibiotics. Right now Ariel is receiving daily vitamin and mineral supplements, along with the many pounds of fish that she consumes very eagerly. Ariel also continues to interact well with EEDs and people. She has been seen displaying new behaviors in addition to making new vocalizations.
Amber Sabrosky, a Riverhead Foundation biologist, interacting with Ariel.
Ariel continues to do well and keeps gaining weight. As of December 12 she weighed 278 lbs! She eats eagerly and stays very active most of the time interacting with EEDs created by the Riverhead Foundation volunteers.
Ariel interacting with a yellow skip disk that she often drags around under water and then lets it go to float to the surface.
Katrina Zawacki, Atlantis Marine World Aquarium marine mammal trainer, during an enrichment session with Ariel.
Stacie Pisciotta, Riverhead Foundation volunteer, interacting with Ariel.
Valerie Ruggeri, Atlantis Marine World Aquarium marine mammal trainer, during an afternoon interaction session.
Wayne Snell, Riverhead Foundation volunteer, rubbing Ariel's chest during an interaction.
February 19, 2007
Ariel is going to be transported to Florida's Gulfarium, her new home, on Wednesday morning, February 21. Once there, she is going to be placed with other dolphins, one of which will be a young bottlenose dolphin female around Ariel's age.
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