The new, hit movie “Dolphin Tale,” brought much-deserved attention this weekend to extraordinary wildlife rescue efforts done at marine mammal facilities around the world. The SeaWorld Rescue Team – which also helped with the initial rescue transport of the film’s star Winter – uses its expertise and creativity every day to devise new ways to rescue, treat and return to nature these extraordinary animals. No rescue, no case is ever the same. Examples of this ingenuity at work include:
Performing hands-on physical therapy on a once-stranded pilot whale;
Being the first to bottle raise an orphaned manatee and also developing “baby formulas” for rescued whales, sea lions and seals;
Successfully teaching a starving sea turtle missing its lower jaw how to eat;
Working with “human” doctors to perform the first ever dialysis on a dolphin suffering from kidney failure.
The team has also devised imaginative ways to help save sea turtles with cracked shells; crafted prosthetic beaks for injured birds; and even uses an “animal wetsuit” to help an injured manatee stay afloat.
These efforts have helped SeaWorld treat more than 18,000 animals in its history. Through all of these efforts, SeaWorld’s dedication to saving animal remains steadfast. Members of the SeaWorld Rescue Team will be there -- anytime and anywhere – to answer the call for years to come. To read more visit www.seaworldcares.com.
