PA55 - The First TMMSN Rescue and Release
Do you know the first animal privileged to be the first TMMSN rescue and release into the wild ocean? Tony Amos sure does. Tony was performing his regular beach survey on April 30, 1985 at 7:27 AM on Mustang Island Gulf Beach, when he came across a live male Stenella clymene, or Clymene Dolphin. According to the National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World, the Clymene Dolphin was confirmed as a valid species only in 1981, just 4 years before Tony Amos’ rescue.
After a brief period of observation at the facility, it was decided to attempt an open ocean release on the day of the stranding. A crew was quickly assembled and PA055 aka C217 was transported aboard the UTMSI vessel “Longhorn” 8.5 NM offshore where the dolphin was released.
According to the original report, Tony states:
“When free it circled the divers a couple of times, and at one time ‘came and looked at us.’ Then it made a wide circle of the ship and headed in an easterly direction, swimming easily and quite rapidly.”
Tony’s report also mentions:
“A news team from Channel 6 came along for the trip but became seasick. Some of the video was lost due to bad batteries on their camera, but some is OK and I am trying to get copies of the video.”
Judging by their performance it wouldn’t surprise me if the Channel 6 news team is out of business but the TMMSN is still alive and kicking and we thank longtime volunteer Tony Amos for his service and for this historic first TMMSN rescue.
Tony is a longtime TMMSN volunteer and advisor. Tony was on the TMMSN founding Board of Directors and currently balances his time between the University of Texas Marine Science Institute and the TMMSN. For information on more TMMSN rescues, visit the Rescue/Rehab page on the website at www.tmmsn.org.