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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Rescued dolphin euthanized after 12 days

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

After nearly 12 days of round-the-clock medical care, veterinarians Sunday euthanized a sick baby dolphin rescued on Christmas Day.

The 4-month-old, spotted female dolphin had struggled all last week but experienced "a very rapid deterioration last night," said Margaret Akamine, the protected species program coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"She became weak and disoriented and unresponsive and became unable to swim on her own," Akamine said yesterday. "So, for humane reasons, the veterinarians euthanized her."

The decision was made about 11 p.m. Sunday, she said.

The dolphin was found Christmas morning frantically swimming in circles at Poka'i Bay in Wai'anae.

The dolphin was being treated at the Marine Mammal Research rehabilitation facility at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

A team of veterinarians and biologists with the Hawaiian Islands Stranding Response Group diagnosed the dolphin with severe pneumonia. It received antibiotics all week. A necropsy was done to learn more about the dolphin's illness, Akamine said.