Rehabilitated Drum Line Dolphin

Overview

Sea World has successfully returned the latest in a line of rescued animals, a female Inshore Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), to the sea after a five month long rehabilitation at the park.

Sea World staff released the dolphin just off Surfers Paradise beach in February 2002, where it is hoped she will rejoin a local pod of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins.

The dolphin measuring 220 cm in length and weighing 120 kg was originally caught on a shark drum line off the Northcliffe beach on Sunday 16 September 2001. The animal was found by the shark meshing contractor and local lifesavers early in the morning, who contacted both Queensland Boating and Fisheries and Sea World staff who freed the dolphin and brought her back to Sea World’s Veterinary Centre.

The large shark hook - the purpose of which, as part of the drum line apparatus is to attract sharks and keep them away from public beaches - had penetrated through the dolphins mouth and protruded just under the eye.

Since then there has been a persistent but isolated infection around the wound, which delayed a planned release in mid January, and the animal has required repeated treatments of antibiotics. A final veterinary inspection was undertaken late last week, resulting in a clean bill of health for the dolphin who was pronounced ready for release back to the wild.