Dolphins Release A History-Maker

Seven more of the dozens of dolphins who mysteriously beached themselves at the Florida Keys in early March have been nursed back to health and released back into the wild.

The Early Show resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner took part Tuesday in the largest release of rehabilitated marine mammals ever.

Turner says emotions ran high during the release, since everyone knew the journey back to sea for seven rough-toothed dolphins started in pretty rough waters.

On March 2, some 70 deep-water dolphins inexplicably beached themselves near Marathon Key. More than half died from the stress of being in shallow waters. The survivors were sent to three marine centers. One of them is the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo.

"When we first get the animals in, we do diagnostic evaluations for their health," explains conservancy Vice President Lloyd Brown.

No one is sure why the dolphins beached themselves. But Dr. Bob Stevens, a marine mammal veterinarian, has a theory: "They're a tight group socially, so when one has trouble and needs to come into a beached situation, just to breathe, some of the others may come along (who are) totally healthy, just for support."

Fifteen of the dolphins brought to the conservancy didn't make it. But seven of the remaining twelve were up to being released."(Based on) their activity in the canal," notes Brown, "they've been ready to go for a while. They were definitely getting a little agitated and going a little stir crazy."

The day of the release started at around 6 in the morning, Turner says: "It's early, but I am ready for my assignment as one of the swimmers. The first order of business is to get the dolphins from a lagoon to a shallower pool by pushing a floating fence forward. That literally crowds the dolphins toward a canal. Then divers escort them toward the pool."

It took a team of at least six people to load each dolphin on a stretcher and carry them to a truck. The maneuver requires precision and coordination.

"Nobody talk. One, two, three, up," came the command.

"And let me tell you," Turner says, "those babies are heavy, weighing up to 350 pounds."

But none of this fazed the group of volunteers assembled for the task. They came from as far away as San Francisco, taking time off work, staying in Florida at their own expense.

"We've been taking care of these guy for almost two months," says volunteer Shaunna Wollpert, "and you kind of get attached, even though you know you're not supposed to."

Wollpert is a Philadelphia lawyer. She says helping with the release gave her a once in a lifetime experience: "They'll do twirls around you and little circles and stuff. It's really cool to make eye contact with them and be a part of their world for a little bit."

Once the dolphins arrived at a nearby dock, they were loaded onto two dive boats for the ride out to sea.

While on the hour-long trip, it was imperative to keep their skin wet.

To increase the likelihood they will remain together in the wild, all seven are positioned to be released at exactly the same time.

After weeks of preparation and a tense morning, the big moment finally arrived.

"One, two, three, release!" exclaimed the team leader.

It was a triumph, for sure, Turner observes. Yet, even as the volunteers celebrated, there was a bit of sadness.

"We'll miss their company," Brown says. "But they don't belong to me. They belong out (at sea). This is the reason for us being here, to put them back in the wild."

All indications are those dolphins are home-free, back where they were meant to be, Turner says.

The conservancy is able to keep up with a couple of the dolphins via satellite. Hopes are high that they'll be just fine.