Up, Up and Away!

Have you ever seen a dolphin lifted into the air? We have! The National Aquarium's Marine Mammal team leads a dolphin transport exercise to prepare the colony for its eventual move to an oceanside habitat. The process entails securing the dolphins in a padded stretcher that holds them like a sling, lifting them out of the exhibit with a crane, placing them in a custom-made carrier, conducting medical tests and returning them to Dolphin Discovery. This experience builds resilience and allows the team to make adjustments for each individual animal. It's also a crucial training opportunity for staff.

"The dolphins are at the center of what the Marine Mammal team does, but it's the people who have to get the logistics right to ensure maximum animal wellbeing," said Sylvia Rickett, curator of Dolphin Discovery.

Every part of the exercise is carefully planned, from job assignments to safety protocols. It takes a village to move animals as large as dolphins, and this exposure brings the dolphins one step closer to relocating to their future oceanside home.

Sylvia and Dr. Aimee Berliner, director of Animal Health and Welfare, brief 38 staff and volunteers across 11 teams. Each staff member is assigned a specific role and a backup job in case someone needs additional support. While they are working with Foster and Beau, the two male dolphins, this time, the team plans to have the four females—Bayley, Chesapeake, Jade and Spirit—take part in this exercise soon. This will prepare all six dolphins for their move to an oceanside habitat.

To prepare for this exercise, the team drains one of the holding pools in the back of Dolphin Discovery so staff can easily stand. The team guides Foster and Beau to one side of the pool.

Staff use a group hug to gently secure each dolphin. Marine Mammal Trainers April Martin and Kimmy Barron work with Foster and Beau, respectively. They act as the dolphins' voices, communicating their responses and needs to the team.

The team secures each dolphin into a stretcher one at a time and hoists them out of the water via crane. Beau, the largest dolphin, weighs 525 pounds, with Foster not far behind him, weighing 390 pounds.

To maximize comfort, the stretchers are made from a silky canvas material with thick padding and have cutouts for the dolphins' flippers and extra support for their rostrum and tails. They are industry-standard stretchers and are the safest tool for transport.

Senior Exhibit Builder Lydia Snyder and additional Aquarium staff have built carriers in-house for each dolphin. Each carrier is also partially filled with water, so it must be strong enough to hold a lot of weight. One at a time, the team slowly lowers and clips each stretcher into a carrier with the dolphin's name on it. These carriers are built for travel—whether in a truck or on a plane, they will get the dolphins to their destination safely.

The team checks in with each other at every step. For example, April and Ivan Perez, assistant curator of Dolphin Discovery, discuss the fit of Foster's carrier. Staff also take measurements of each box and spray the dolphins' exposed skin with water to keep them damp and cool.

Associate Veterinarian Stefan Gallini and other Animal Health staff provide essential support, including checking the dolphins' heart rates to monitor any changes. When it's time to move the dolphins to their future home, at least one veterinarian will make the trip with the animals to support them and the Marine Mammal team.

After the team finishes taking measurements, it's time for the blood draw. The Animal Health team takes a blood sample at the beginning of the process and toward the end to compare lactate levels in the blood to check for muscle exertion. Neither dolphin's levels show much change during the exercise, which is the result the team was hoping for.

Splash! After a successful exercise, the team helps the dolphins into the exhibit one at a time. They carry each stretcher over to the edge and roll the animals back into the pool, which is the safest way to get a dolphin back in the exhibit.

Foster and Beau are rewarded with rubs and treats for a job well done. Staff also closely monitor the dolphins over the next several hours to check for changes in behavior.

Sylvia congratulates everyone on a successful day! After each training exercise, the team discusses what went well and offers suggestions for improving the process next time. That's a wrap!

Support the Dolphin Colony

From prepping the dolphins for their big move to serving up over 650 pounds of restaurant-quality food every week, it takes a lot to care for the dolphins. Show your support for our work on behalf of the colony by donating to the National Aquarium.