Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network

The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network has a new dolphin patient at their Galveston rehab center and this little guy has only survived thus far because of the caring people involved, ranging from the fishermen that found him to the boat captain that transported his rescue team, to TMMSN staff & volunteers working around the clock with him.  Read more about Russ's story below and how you can help: 
Formula, medical costs, and daily support of a dolphin is very expensive and often requires many months of care.  TMMSN is a non-profit organization that has been conducting dolphin research and rehabilitation in Texas since 1980 and they rely on donations and trained volunteers to complete their work.

Baby Russ is a young male bottlenose dolphin, estimated to be approximately 6 months of age.  A fisherman by the name of Russell Gregg discovered him Sunday morning, injured and stranded in the shallow bays of Port O’Connor.  He reported the young dolphin to the TMMSN stranding hotline (1-800-9MAMMAL), with information that the dolphin was only accessible with a very shallow draft vessel, capable of traversing the mangroves. 

The TMMSN Critical Care Team responded and acquired the help of Captain Will Granberry of Bay Fishing Port O’Connor Charters.  Once TMMSN located the dolphin, he was quickly loaded onto the boat, transported across the bay and loaded into their dolphin ambulance for the drive back to their rehab center in Galveston, TX. The dolphin was named “Baby Russ” after the gentlemen who was in the water by the dolphin’s side, providing first aid care for hours until our team could get out to the site. 

Once back at TMMSN, little Russ began swimming on his own and he is receiving a special dolphin formula via bottle and tube every few hours.   He is underweight and has likely been separated from his mom and unable to eat for some time.  He has numerous wounds covering his body, some of which are shark bites.  Blood was drawn for assessment and his wounds treated.  TMMSN will continue to provide nutritional and supportive care and monitor him for infection.  

More information about Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network can be found at DolphinRescue.org or on their facebook page.

Tango is one of our own bottlenose dolphin of South Padre Island. She is in need of rescue. This beautiful dolphin has fishing line not only  wrapped around her dorsal fin but the whole entanglement goes to her right fluke of her  tail and is wrapped around it which inhibits her ability to swim.
Everyday we see her slowly moving around begging for fish from fishing boats until she can be rescued as fishing on her own is difficult for her to move around. Rescue efforts are underway by my heroes the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network to save Tango. This will involve bringing in boats, vets and rescue specialists. Your donation will help cover the costs to save Tango as boats have to be brought in from as far away as Florida that specialize in safe marine mammal rescues.
My name is Scarlet Colley dolphinwhisper  and I have spent twenty years with this tribe of dolphins. To see Tango hopelessly entangled is heartbreaking and everyday all of us who see her while out on the Laguna Madre Bay cry for her and out to her that help is on its way.  The experts are coming soon.
Let's all help out this poor dolphin not only with funding but with prayers that she will be rescued. This team has rescued two others of our tribe. One in 2005 Ranger, and little Mohawk in 2009. Both of these dolphin have come to our boats this week with incredible greetings of thankyou and almost as if to say now Save Tango Too. This money will go straight to the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network a non profit that has saved so many of our own, the magnificent bottlenose dolphin of South Padre Island. Dolphin hugs and Mama Mia let's save her.