By NANCY HILER
"The dolphin was in critical condition and underweight for his size," said Robert DiGiovanni, executive director of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, who led the rescue. DiGiovanni, a marine biologist, said that the 8-foot-8-inch- long, 471-pound juvenile male dolphin should weigh closer to 600 pounds.
The dolphin was placed in a stretcher, with the Hempstead Bay Constable's boat as a platform, then carefully moved out of the dead end of the canal so it could be raised from the water, DiGiovanni said. It was placed in a "tank truck," a specialized van, for transport to Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, Nassau County police officer Jean DeLuca said.
"I think it was about 9 in the morning, and my neighbor Gary Smith noticed it and called it in," said Jim Mills, who lives on Beach Street.
"I was sitting on my deck having a cup of coffee, and I noticed splashes in the water," Smith said. "I thought it might be my neighbor's pet, but I discovered it was a dolphin, so I called for help."
Mills explained that the Bay Constable came, followed by biologists from the Riverhead Foundation, who put the rescue plan together.
"It got stuck in there, at the end of the creek," said Terry Daly, a resident of Bay Street. "I think it just got lost." Why the dolphin was there is a question biologists continue to ask. Although dolphins frequent ocean waters along the South Shore, it is unusual for one to swim through the Jones Beach inlet, DiGiovanni said. "We'll look into what environmental factors were going on at the time and try to piece things together," he said.
"They put the dolphin in this red animal rescue sling," Mills recounted, "and used my electric winch to pull it out of the water." Mills's home borders on the canal called Seabreeze Creek, which is why his wife and neighbors gave the dolphin its nickname, he said.
Bellmorites lend a hand
"This was a prime example of a successful rescue," DiGiovanni said. "It was great to see the community come together and follow our lead. By waiting for us, by not intervening and letting us do our job, we were able to assess what was needed and minimize the stress to the animal. The community did a great job, and it was a joy to see."
DiGiovanni explained that whenever a wild animal such as this one is in trouble, it's important that members of the public not take matters into their own hands because they could get hurt. "They all did the right things," he said of the dozens of residents who gathered at the scene.
With the first 24 to 48 hours considered critical in the rescue of a marine mammal, Seabreeze seems to be doing well. By Sunday morning the dolphin was swimming in the 42,000-gallon hospital tank at the aquarium and was eating fish unassisted. It underwent blood and other tests, and will continue to be closely monitored.
"We have a long road to go with this," DiGiovanni said. Test results won't be back for several weeks, and it may take a few months to a year of care before the foundation and the National Marine Fisheries Service can determine whether the dolphin can be released back into the ocean, the ultimate goal.
A report of a dolphin in a different Bellmore canal had come in a few days earlier, but the animal was gone by the time biologists responded, DiGiovanni said. Whether it was Seabreeze or a different dolphin is not yet known, but residents are urged to continue to report sightings of healthy, sick, alive or dead marine mammals on the foundation's 24-hour emergency hotline, (631) 369-9829.
"We need our partner, the public, to contact us," DiGiovanni said. He emphasized that the foundation, New York state's only marine mammal and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center, works in conjunction with the Atlantis Marine World aquarium, but is a separate, non-profit group. The organization depends on public reporting for help with its survey work, and on donations for funding.
For updates on Seabreeze's condition and for more information about the foundation, visit www.riverheadfoundation.org.
Comments about this story? NHiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
