Welcome to the South Padre Island Nature Center!
| Dolphin Rescue & Release |
Ranger R01 makes history here on South Padre Island. This little dolphin was found trapped in a recently made marina in late March of this year. The SPI Dolphin Research Center was notified by a resident there that the little dolphin seemed trapped and no other dolphin were around. We responded to the call and found the little dolphin to be underweight and indeed alone and unable to find a way out of the marina. The Marine Mammal Stranding Network was called in to access the situation and it was decided to capture the little dolphin and take it to the ARK in Port Aransas. This was done with other cooperating groups such as the Coastal Studies Lab on the Island and Marine Fisheries.
The capture was well planned and all went smooth and easy as little Ranger was caught and taken to the ARK where he was treated for malnutrition. He spent four months at the ARK gaining over sixty pounds. He was always watched by the many volunteers day and night and won the hearts of all that spent time with him. He finally became fit enough to come home and many more plans were made for his release. Finally he arrived on the evening of July 28th and was housed overnight at the Coastal Studies Lab. He was put in a holding pool and began to play with his hula hoop and eat fish offered to him by the ARK staff members. The release team all got together to go over last minute plans and procedures.
The next morning, early I took out a scout group to find a friendly group of dolphins to release Ranger near. I knew just where they might be and sure enough right at the mouth of South Bay in the Brownsville shipping channel there they were. We called the release team and they brought Ranger to the Skimmer, the release boat. With Ranger placed on board, a radio tag was attached to his dorsal fin. He was also tattooed back at the ARK with a R01 under his dorsal fin across his back on both sides. This would allow us to recognize him for the rest of his life. Dorsal fins can always change. This tattoo is permanent. With tag attached he was ready to go and knew he was home. He was slid into the water by the release team on board and everyone held their breaths waiting for him to surface. He surfaced right by the boat and stayed with the boats for a good while. He headed west and there was no question he knew right where he was. He sky rocketed into the air three times and soon met up with a mother and her baby. He was greeted lovingly and then he went on his way. The release team and all the volunteers cheered and teary eyed said goodbye to Ranger. A job well done.
We now watch Ranger living in the wild once again with his family. He disappeared for a week or so and obviously lost his tracking tag as we could get no signal anywhere in the area. But with watchful eyes he was spotted just a few miles north of the causeway last week and Saturday evening I found him with Striped's group. He followed me for a while as if he were grateful for everything we did for him. He is healthy and well fed. The South Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sealife Center is dedicated to the lives of all the wild dolphins of South Padre Island. We are proud to spend everyday filming and documenting their lives to learn about their wonderful social system and bonds they have as families. Come and enjoy seeing and learning about our wild dolphins of South Padre Island ....
Scarlet Colley
- Director
See photographs taken by Scarlet Colley.
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| Mohawks Rescue |
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Baby Mohawk , one of our two year olds, was rescued after five weeks of monitering her health while hopelessly entangled in fishing line. She was still able to swim next to her mother but the heavy mackeral tackle was bridled thru her mouth and around her body. Thank goodness her tail was free so she could remain mobil. Her mother kept her in a safe zone and after the rescue team arrived it took two days to capture her. She was put on a navy mat and there we could see how the fishing line was slowly cutting thru her mouth and her arms. She would not have survived with out intervention. She is now free and happy bowriding and playing and gaining some weight now that she can nurse and feed freely without the fishing line in her mouth. The same group that came to rescue Ranger came to help Mohawk and without Harbor Branch Oceanographin Inst. and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Noah, and the Sea Life Center little Mohawk would surely have perished. Read more about her on our blog.
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