PA855 - Baby James
October 3, 2009 - The TMMSN Critical Care Team in Corpus Christi responded to the call of a stranded dolphin on October 3rd, 2009 at Mile Marker 36 on Mustang Island, Port Aransas.
TMMSN recovered the animal and transported him to the Texas State Aquarium Sea Lab for stabilization.
The dolphin
is identified as a young male Pantropical Spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), estimated at 1 year of age. The dolphin is currently swimming on his own and accepting tube
feedings well.
We will post updates on the disposition and condition of PA855,
aka "Baby James", on
this website, along with pictures and other media as it becomes
available.
For interesting facts on spotted dolphins you can check out
the NMFS
web resource
here.
October 5, 2009 - Update
Last night, October 4, 2009, PA855 suddenly died. The cause of
death is unknown and Dr. Cowan, the TMMSN Director and Pathologist, will necropsy the animal and results will be posted
on this website as they become available.
We thank all of the TMMSN members and volunteers that donated their time and abilities
to take care of this animal every minute, 24 hours a day, after it was reported and found.
October 7, 2009 - Update
Preliminary Necropsy Results from Dr. Cowan:
"Necropsy done on PA855 yesterday revealed four broken ribs, and
a completely collapsed left lung; "pneumothorax". This by itself is
enough to cause death, but additional studies will be done and a
more complete report prepared. The pattern of injury is consistent
with intra-specific aggression. We have seen this before. This does
not look like a case of human interaction. I doubt that anything
could have saved this little guy."
D. Cowan
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