SEAWORLD’S TEXAS AND FLORIDA RESCUE TEAMS JOIN FORCES TO SAVE ENTANGLED DOLPHIN

South Padre Island, Texas — A bottlenose dolphin found entangled in fishing gear near South Padre Island, Texas, was rescued Monday by the SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld Orlando rescue teams, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and members of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

After hours of searching, the rescue teams retrieved the dolphin and removed more than 3 pounds of fishing gear that entangled the animal, including hooks, leaders and fishing line.

Once the dolphin was rescued and detangled, a SeaWorld veterinarian and animal care staff assessed the animal, gave it a complete physical checkup, took blood samples and cultures and gave the dolphin antibiotics for possible infection from the entanglement. The animal was released back in to the ocean.

Entanglement in fishing gear and similar items can lead to suffocation or internal bleeding if hooks and lures are swallowed by the animal. To help prevent harm to wild dolphins and other animals, officials say it is best to dispose of old line and hooks properly and be mindful of fishing locations where animals are known to surface to breathe so they do not become caught in cast lines.

The public can assist injured marine animals by calling the local Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline number is 1-800-9-MAMMAL (1-800-962-6625).

Immediately report entangled, injured or dead marine mammals to 1-877-WHALEHELP (1-877-942-5343).