Seabees Provide Home for Dolphins Displaced During Katrina

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Navy News | By Journalist 3rd Class Chris Gethings | September 19, 2005

GULFPORT, Miss. - Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport opened its doors Sept. 17 to Kelly, Toni, Jackie and Noah, four of eight Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins displaced when a reported 40-foot storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home at Marine Life Oceanarium Aug. 29.

The dolphins' temporary home includes three portable saltwater above-ground pools, filters, pumps and monitoring equipment set up by U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program personnel from San Diego at an NCBC facility. One 22,000-gallon pool and two 10,000-gallon pools will be used to provide a temporary home for eight dolphins while they recover from injuries sustained during the hurricane and until a new home is decided upon.

"Our role is to provide and maintain a place for these animals to live comfortably," said Bob Olds, project manager with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. "We were chosen for this task because we have all the experience, equipment and resources necessary for quickly setting up and maintaining a comfortable home for these dolphins; the marine mammal community knows this is exactly what we do."

Olds and other personnel with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program will continuously monitor and maintain all of the filtration and temperature control equipment needed to maintain a home for the dolphins until they're ready to be moved. NCBC personnel will be providing 24-hour security for the facility where the dolphins are staying.

"This facility is outstanding," Tash Solangi, public relations representative for Marine Life Oceanarium said. "The Navy has given us everything we could ever need in order to keep our dolphins safe and keep them on a fast track to recovery."

The dolphins were found in Gulfport harbor Sept. 10 by Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) personnel in a Harrison County Sheriff's Department helicopter, and trainers and veterinarians with IMMS have been monitoring and caring for the dolphins ever since. The trainers and veterinarians have been providing the dolphins with food, antibiotics and vitamins with the help of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) boats used to get to the dolphins in the harbor.

"We'll be housing the dolphins for at least a week, and we're willing to keep them for however long it takes them to recover," said Ensign Michael Dobling, public works operations officer at NCBC. "We couldn't be more proud we were asked to provide a shelter for these dolphins."

Dobling received a phone call from U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program personnel, asking if NCBC would be a suitable place to keep the dolphins. Dobling said he started making the arrangements immediately after the call.

"Our Seabees have been out in town since the day after the hurricane, helping local residents recover," explained Dobling. "This is just another prime example of the willingness and capabilities our base can and will provide."

Shelly, Jill, Eli and Tamara, the four Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins still in Gulfport harbor, are scheduled to join their four shipmates at NCBC over the next week.

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