Rescued Dolphin “Abel” at Texas State Aquarium is Moved to Galveston

October 29, 2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A stranded male bottlenose dolphin that has spent the past two weeks at the Texas State Aquarium (TSA) Wildlife Rescue Center has now been moved to a Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) in Galveston for long-term care. 

The dolphin was first discovered stranded on Padre Island National Seashore on October 9 and was transported to the Wildlife Rescue Center by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Upon intake, the dolphin was found to be in poor body condition with a respiratory disease and injuries consistent with shark bites. The dolphin was eventually able to swim on its own in the Wildlife Rescue Center’s largest rehabilitation pool and was monitored 24 hours a day for two weeks while receiving nutritional support, initial diagnostics and treatment as part of a collaborative effort between the TMMSN, TSA and SeaWorld of Texas. On Thursday night, the dolphin was transferred to the Galveston facility for additional diagnostic testing and long-term care.

Aquarium staff said they will continue to work with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, SeaWorld of Texas, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, NOAA and other conservation partners to assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of dolphins and other marine mammals, along with shorebirds, raptors and sea turtles.

If you find a stranded dolphin or whale, experts say you should not push them back in the water. Instead, call the TMMSN dolphin rescue hotline (800-9MAMMAL) and a rescue team will be immediately dispatched.

To learn more about the Wildlife Rescue Center, visit www.texasstateaquarium.org/rescue.

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