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4 <br /> t <br /> A <br /> NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT <br /> Marine Mammal Stranding Response with IFAW <br /> By: Suzanne LaChance <br /> As I drove to my Individual Placement the morning of March 13, I was looking forward to my day serving with the <br /> International Fund Animal Welfare (IFAW). I was prepared to assist with a dolphin necropsy,but an hour into the <br /> process the Marine Mammal Rescue &Research(MMRR)team received a call that a live dolphin had washed ashore in <br /> Brewster. I was given the option of completing the necropsy or joining the live animal response crew. While necropsies <br /> are extremely interesting and provide us with valuable data, I had been waiting to go on a live marine mammal stranding <br /> response since I started serving at IFAW. There was no way I was going to pass up such a great opportunity. <br /> On site, it was unclear why the sub-adult, female Common Dolphin had beached herself. However,this animal was <br /> being tossed around in the rough surf like a bean-bag and needed to be transported to the dolphin rescue trailer. Once in <br /> a controlled environment a health assessment could take place. This included blood sampling/analyzing, heart <br /> monitoring, audiogram testing, and body measurements. Through the use of advanced technology, the IFAW MMRR <br /> team was able to analyze the patient's blood in the field,receiving nearly immediate results. In contrast to what was <br /> expected from such a lively animal, the blood results <br /> indicated that only four out of thirty parameters tested were <br /> within the normal limits. The persistent rescuers did not <br /> give up hope. We continued with an audiogram test and <br /> decided to run a second round of blood sampling <br /> after <br /> ER <br /> some more time had passed, optimistic that there would be <br /> a more positive outcome. To our dismay, the second round <br /> of blood results indicated that the animal was in critical <br /> condition.Furthermore, our patient's heart rate had spiked <br /> up to approximately 190 beats/minute, well outside the <br /> normal resting heart rate(90-120 beats/minute) of a <br /> dolphin. After taking this and many other negative factors <br /> into consideration, it was clear that despite the valiant <br /> effort of the IFAW MMRR team, the most humane option <br /> for this particular animal was to be euthanized. <br /> i <br /> Although I have dealt with the death of animals in my <br /> personal life, I have never witnessed an animal being <br /> euthanized. This was not something I anticipated on <br /> experiencing that day, nor was it a decision that was taken <br /> lightly by IFAW personnel. However, in the field of <br /> stranding response animal euthanization is a humane <br /> option in order to save terminally ill or injured animals <br /> from suffering. All in all,the outcome of the day was not <br /> ideal, but it was necessary for me in order to understand <br /> the less glamorous side of working with marine mammals. <br /> I am hopeful that the next time a marine mammal washes <br /> ashore on Cape Cod our efforts will be reflected in a <br /> positive outcome for the animal. <br /> 9 <br />