Stranding Hotline: |
Conservation |
 We are an official member of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network and have actively participated in stranded sea turtle rescues and rehabilitations. Sea turtles are a valuable part of marine ecosystems throughout the world. |
When word of the approaching storm reached Oceanarium staff, they kept their fingers crossed and hoped that it would turn away like the majority of recent storms. Unfortunately, instead of veering off, Katrina suddenly increased in strength and aimed directly for the Gulf Coast community. With only twelve hours notice of the impending devastation, the employees rallied to shelter all of the animals. IMMS, a non-profit organization, with its staff and expertise helped evacuate the Marine Life facility. Defying urgent evacuation calls, trainers remained to carefully transport six dolphins that were maintained in low-lying tanks at the Oceanarium to hotel swimming pools further inland of the Gulfport harbor. The remaining eight dolphins were housed in the safety of a thirty-foot high tank which had survived all storms including Hurricane Camille, the devastating category 5 hurricane which decimated the Gulf Coast in 1969. Eight sea lions in possible storm flood areas were transferred out of the park. The other sea lions were secured in what was believed to be a safe area. When the storm had passed, staff discovered that the Marine Life facility was demolished and that the eight dolphins and nineteen sea lions were missing. Although it survived Hurricane Katrina, the dolphins' tank was submerged by the immense tidal surge. Biologists believe that the two dolphin families inside the tank and the sea lions remaining in the park swam into the Mississippi Sound . Realizing that the animals' home no longer existed, the staff transported the evacuated dolphins and sea lions to safer conditions at Florida 's Gulfarium and Sea World Orlando. These two oceanariums, along with Gulf World in Panama City Beach , provided invaluable assistance with the transport and subsequent care of the marine mammals. Marine Life Oceanarium is the first marine mammal facility to have suffered such a complete catastrophic loss and the dedicated staff has worked non-stop to recover the animals in the disaster area. Marine Life Oceanarium animal trainers, who have had entire homes and precious mementoes buried by the filthy mud, have focused on searching for the missing dolphins and sea lions who were swept away by the storm. The greatest concern is to find the animals and take them to a temporary safe harbor away from the dangerous aftermath of the hurricane. Now that the Mississippi Sound is more accessible, animal care experts will be able to intensify the search for the missing dolphins which include two mothers, two sons, one daughter, and three of the dolphins who participated in the dolphin interaction program. There have already been reported sightings of them since the storm.
Most of the tenacious sea lions that lost shelter during the storm have since been rescued. Public response has been instrumental in finding the lost sea lions who have been discovered on back porches, under houses, amid debris piles, and keeping cool in neighboring bays and swimming pools. Katrina claimed the lives of five, and two are still missing. How You Can Help |
Our Dolphin Rescue Team:
All of our conservation, research, and rehabilitation efforts here at IMMS require significant resources. Your generous donations will greatly help with the endless needs that arise in tending to sick and injured marine animals, in conducting research, and in the construction of the new IMMS research and education center.
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