Swept from aquarium pool, dolphins found alive offshore

Eight bottlenose dolphins that were washed out of their Mississippi aquarium pool during Hurricane Katrina have been found alive, huddled together in the fetid waters off Gulfport, Miss. Now, deeply worried about the dolphins' chances of survival, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials and aquarium biologists are racing to rescue the weak and wounded animals -- some of which have never before ventured into the wild.

''These animals found us, they came back after Katrina . . . they came home," said Moby Solangi, director of the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport. ''All eight are together. It's the most wonderful news."

Established in 1956, the facility suffered catastrophic damage in the storm. Along with the dolphins, 19 sea lions were swept out of their pools when a giant storm surge engulfed the Oceanarium. Five of them are missing.

When Katrina hit last month, the employees of the aquariums, zoos, and roadside animal attractions in its path scrambled: Emergency generators in fish pools were turned on; dolphins were moved to local hotel swimming pools, and stockpiles of food were amassed for zoo and aquarium creatures.

The storm, however, proved too devastating for some shoreside facilities. Emergency generators at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans failed after a forced staff evacuation, resulting in the death of most of the facility's 6,000-fish collection, including some 9-foot sharks.

Still, amid the mammoth destruction across the region, there was some good news. The Aquarium of the Americas was able to save a number of animals, including delicate sea dragons and a giant sea turtle. Two sea otters and 19 penguins that survived were airlifted Friday to Monterey Bay Aquarium in California for safekeeping until the facility reopens. While zoos suffered some damage, few of their animals died as a result of Katrina.

Even the dolphin story may have a happy ending.

As the forecasts became increasingly dire before the hurricane hit, Oceanarium staff scrambled to move the animals. Three dolphins were moved to a Best Western swimming pool in Gulfport, while three others were taken to a Holiday Inn pool specially prepared for the dolphins. Eight sea lions were moved by trailer from the park to a staff member's home. Out of time, workers left 19 sea lions at the facility -- and the remaining eight dolphins in their 30-foot tank.

The tank had survived the devastation of Hurricane Camille in 1969 and every storm since. The tank did hold up this time, but it was submerged in the tidal surge, and the dolphins and sea lions swam -- or were pushed -- out.

Soon after the storm eased, the surviving sea lions were rescued from under back porches and houses and in piles of debris. Some were found in residential swimming pools. But the pack of dolphins was missing, and biologists had little hope that they survived or, if alive, that they were still in the area.

Solangi wasn't able to get up in a helicopter to look for the group until four days ago. In the first 15 minutes of the trip, he and his group spotted them.

''I think one of the [staff members] in the helicopter had to be restrained from jumping down to be with them," said Solangi, whose staff has since been feeding the animals fish and antibiotics by boat to build up their strength. He believes the dolphins will be strong enough in about two days to be rescued. Trainers are working with the dolphins to have them jump up on a float that can be towed toward shore.

''They totally perked up and are just delighted to see" the trainers, he said.

Five of the dolphins know how to forage for food in the wild. Three captive-bred animals -- Tony, Eli, and Noah -- have never fared for themselves.

The animals, officials warn, are in deeply polluted water, and it's not yet clear how sick they are -- or even whether they will survive if rescued. Dead chickens, trash, and chemical and oil residues are floating near them, according to NOAA officials. Once rescued, the dolphins will be quarantined in temporary pools until it's clear they will not spread disease.

Another concern in rescuing the animals from the polluted water, NOAA officials said, is to ensure humans don't get sick if they need to help the dolphins. The agency is attempting to find special swimming suits for rescuers.

''We are very pleased to have found these animals and that they all stayed together," said Teri Rowles, lead veterinarian with NOAA fisheries. She cautioned, however, that the animals were weak, underfed, and sick. ''We remain cautiously optimistic they will recover from this ordeal."

Beth Daley can be reached at bdaley@globe.com.