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Lonely dolphin seeks new mate
By CHRISTINA HEADRICK, Times Staff Writer CLEARWATER -- Since the death of Sunset Sam, a dolphin named Panama has been left to swim alone in the aquarium's 350,000-gallon seawater pool. But she might not be alone forever. Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials say they will try to find a new companion for Panama; and in the meantime, they are spending time with her in play and training. "We'll check around with permitted facilities, aquariums that do what we're doing or facilities that may have a dolphin they can't handle any longer but that can't be returned to the wild," said Dennis Kellenberger, the aquarium's executive director. Sunset Sam -- the famous Atlantic bottlenose dolphin that lived at the aquarium since 1984, known for painting and as an icon for the facility -- died Dec. 4. Panama, also an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, arrived earlier this year after getting stranded near Panama City, Fla., last October. The National Marine Fisheries Service determined she cannot be released, so the 470-pound, 81/2-foot dolphin took up permanent residence with Sam before his death. Although Panama has worn-down teeth and scarring from a bad sunburn, aquarium officials say that she is doing well. But Kellenberger said the aquarium recognizes that dolphins in captivity need stimulation and companionship. "We know that we shouldn't have these animals alone for long periods of time," said Diana Reiss, who heads a marine mammal research program at the New York Aquarium. "They're highly social and gregarious animals who live in complex groups in the wild. They're highly dependent on each other for things." So far officials don't know what caused Sunset Sam's death; although Dr. Richard "Bill" Goldston, the aquarium's veterinarian, expressed suspicion that Sam's chronic liver disease played a role. Sam had received vitamins and liver medication through the years, after tests showed that he had a degenerative liver disorder. Sam did not like Goldston's occasional exams, the doctor said, and would try to bite his legs if he recognized them in the tank. "I loved him, but he didn't like me," Goldston said. "He had a pretty pesky attitude toward me." Tissue samples from Sam have been sent to two labs, and it could be weeks or months before the team of veterinarians involved in the necropsy agree on the cause of the death, Kellenberger said. Since the death, staff members have held a private memorial service and are planning to scatter Sam's ashes when they receive them. Kellenberger said that aquarium staff and volunteers would like to thank everyone for their flowers, cards, e-mails and letters.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
