Oh, Stormy!
Rescued Dolphin is Big Attraction at Mystic Aquarium and on the Web
Dateline: 07/07/99
Stormy the dolphin's
tale of survival has been followed closely by animal lovers, and now you can see Stormy in
person at Mystic, Connecticut's
Mystic Aquarium, or
on the Web via the StormyCAM.
When Stormy, a male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was discovered by a strolling couple on a south Texas beach last September, veterinarians from the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) called to the scene didn't think the young dolphin had much chance of survival. Bleeding from shark wounds, weak, and separated prematurely from his mother, most likely during Tropical Storm Frances, Stormy was unable to survive on his own. Dolphins normally stay with their mothers for two years and, at just 18 months old, Stormy had not yet been fully weaned at the time he was separated from his mother.
After initial care at the TTSM, the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that Stormy should not be returned to the wild, and a new home was found for the resilient dolphin at Mystic Aquarium. Countless volunteers and generous organizations contributed not only to the dolphin's 24-hour care from the time of his rescue until his departure in late March, but to his transportation costs. Photos of Stormy's journey from Texas to Connecticut are viewable at the TTSM Web site.
When Stormy first arrived at Mystic Aquarium on March 23, he was temporarily placed in a quarantine pool in the Aquatic Animal Study Center, where his rehabilitation continued. Though he was not on view to the public, he quickly gained a throng of fans when he made is Web debut on March 27 via the Aquarium's StormyCAM, a Web cam that allowed Internet users to follow the dolphin's amazing progress.
On May 12, Stormy
was moved to Mystic Aquarium's World of the
Dolphin exhibit, a 400,000-gallon pool, where he's got company--two female bottlenose
dolphins. The StormyCAM
has now been relocated so that Stormy's supporters can continue to watch the dolphin as he
continues to grow and thrive. And visitors to Mystic Aquarium are in for a treat watching
the antics of Stormy and his new companions, Misty and Nina.
Mystic Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. September through June and until 6 p.m. July through Labor Day. General Admission is $15.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors 60 and older, $10 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children ages 2 and under. Dolphin demonstrations are an additional $2.00 for adults and children ages 3 to 12. Directions to the Aquarium are available online.
To see Stormy and his new pals on the StormyCAM, you'll need to download the current version of Real Player G2, which is available for free. If Stormy is being camera shy, you can also watch prerecorded clips once you've downloaded Real Player G2. You can also watch a clip of Stormy's arrival in Mystic.
Donations to help Mystic Aquarium care for Stormy and other stranded animals can be sent to: Sea Research Foundation, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355.
If you're visiting Mystic, Connecticut, from out of town, you'll find Connecticut travel resources here at New England for Visitors.
Stormy photos courtesy of Mystic Aquarium.
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