Phuket's Sick Dolphin Now Comatose, Clinging To Life

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Phuket's sick dolphin now comatose, clinging to life

PMBC researchers feed and medicate the dolphin by tube and funnel.

PHUKET: -- The future appears grim for the sick bottlenose dolphin rescued by marine biologists off Phuket last week. Paralyzed and comatose, the cetacean is now being kept alive by life support measures provided by staff at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC).

Fourteen staff at the PMBC Marine Endangered Species Unit are currently working around the clock to keep the dolphin from drowning in the holding tank where it has been treated since Saturday for an unknown infection.

Despite the best efforts of PMBC veterinarians, the animal’s condition continues to worsen.

Veterinarian Patcharaporn Kaewmong said the still unnamed creature slipped into a coma on the fourth day of treatment.

“Its muscles weakened to the point that it was unable to swim or even float enough to prevent itself from drowning – then paralysis set in. One staff member has to stay in the pool and support it at all times. At night we put a life jacket under it, allowing it to stay still at the water surface. We monitor its condition all day, all night,” she said.

The animal is fed liquid food mixed with medication to treat an infection, but the veterinary team has been unable to pinpoint the underlying cause.

“We know its white blood cell count is low, but blood tests have not revealed why,” Ms Patcharaporn said.

An antibacterial agent has also been applied to external scrape wounds along its body.

Ms Patcharaporn is also seeking help from the public to fix the drainage system in the holding tank.

“We have to drain out the water and refill the tank daily in a process that takes about an hour. During that time the dolphin suffers severe stress that delays its recovery. We need better equipment to carry out the drainage more quickly. If anyone can help, please contact us at the PMBC as soon as possible, ” she said.

“We will try our best to keep it alive, for we hold its life to be just as precious as that of a human being,” she added.

Anyone who can help can contact the PMBC at 076-391128 or 076-391438.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-04-06

[fenny99]

TRY RADIATION POISONING ... DOES THE DOLPHIN SPEAK JAPANESE

ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE MAYBE THE ROUGH SEAS HAS STIRED UP SOMETHING OF THE SEA BED .. SAD ...GOOD ATTEMPT THOUGH BY THE THAIS TO KEEP IT ALIVE , PAT ON THE BACK ALL ROUND

[krading]

What a load of bullshite.

What about the accident victim I saw lying almost comatose on a gurney outside the emergency department because there was no one to guarantee payment for his treatment.

Get your priorities right.

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Sick dolphin dies in Phuket

Researchers said the stress of confinement likely contributed to

the dolphin’s rapid demise.

PHUKET: -- Despite the best efforts of veterinarians, the bottle-nose dolphin rescued off Phuket on Saturday died earlier today.

Patcharaporn Kaewmong of the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center confirmed that the two-meter-long cetacean took its last breath at around 3am, following five days of intensive treatment at the facility.

An initial examination of the body was unable to determine the exact cause of death.

Fishermen who discovered the dolphin in the polluted Klong Tha Cheen in Rassada told researchers they thought the dolphin followed their vessel home after an encounter with the dolphin’s pod near Maithon Island, off the coast of Rawai.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-04-08

[sbk]

What a load of bullshite.

What about the accident victim I saw lying almost comatose on a gurney outside the emergency department because there was no one to guarantee payment for his treatment.

Get your priorities right.

helping one does not preclude helping the other. Can't see a marine veterinarian doing much good for the man in the hospital eh?