After less than two months of treatment at Mote Marine Lab, “Ginger,” the bottlenose dolphin that stranded on Siesta Key in December, was released back to her home waters in Sarasota Bay on Feb. 9, 2009. The following updates are through the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, the “world’s longest-running wild dolphin research program,” managed by CZS researcher Dr. Randy Wells.
Ginger Dolphin Updates
March 30
Ginger was observed this morning milling alone under the Siesta Key Bridge. Randy Wells led the tracking team this morning. During the sighting, he said that Ginger's body condition looked good and her behavior was normal.
March 23
Ginger was first observed this morning in Big Pass, near south Lido park. She then traveled to the mouth of Hansen Bayou on the northwest tip of Siesta Key, where she began to feed. She chased several large mullet, throwing one of them into the air. The team was joined by veterinarian Deb Fauquier who said, "Ginger appeared to be in good body weight, no change from [my] last observation (February 19). Behaving normally, fishing with good respirations. Overall assessment is that Ginger has adapted well to being back in the wild."
March26
Ginger was again observed in the mouth of Hansen Bayou. She was milling along the seawall and her conditions and respirations appeared good.
March 11, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning in the shallows between Bird Key and the north end of Siesta Key. She was foraging in a group that included: Rip Torn (a well known, resident adult male), her mother (F127) and nine month old sibling, FB25 and FB25's calf, who is only one year younger than Ginger.
March 5, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning in Robert's Bay feeding between Skiers'
and Edward's Islands, which seems to be a common location and behavior for her in the morning.
March 3, 2009
Ginger was observed today during one of our regular surveys of Sarasota Bay, just southwest of the mooring field off of Marina Jacks. She was closely associated with a seven year old resident male dolphin named Thrasher. They were socializing together as they were slowly traveling north. It is good to see Ginger interacting with another animal from the population in a normal way.
March 2, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning milling and feeding in Robert's Bay between Edward's and Skiers' Islands. She was seen chasing several small fish and caught at least one that was 8-12" long, which she carried in her mouth for about a minute before ingesting. Her body condition and respirations remain normal.
Feb. 26, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning in the shallows just north of the Roberts Bay bird rookery. Her mother, younger sibling, and a juvenile male came within 50 meters of her, but they did not seem to interact (although they could have been in acoustic communication). Ginger then traveled west to Edward's Island and began to forage. Her respirations were normal and body condition appeared good.
Feb. 23, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning milling and then traveling in the small bay just northeast of the Siesta Key Bridge. Strong wind and poor sighting conditions have continued to make observations difficult. However, from direct observations made and photographs taken, her behavior remains normal and body condition appears good.
Feb. 20, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning just north of the Siesta Key Bridge, near where she was observed on February 18th. She appeared to be in good condition and ate at least one fish, but was difficult to follow in rough seas.
Feb. 19, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning milling just southwest of the Siesta Key Bridge. The crew was joined today by veterinarian Deb Fauquier, who observed that Ginger's body condition was good and similar to that of her release.
Feb. 18, 2009
Ginger was observed this morning north of Siesta Key Bridge (no signals from Robert's Bay). She appeared to be in good condition, but was difficult to follow in rough seas.
Dedicated daily radio-tracking will continue through Friday of this week, and then shift to twice per week starting next week, assuming she continues to indicate that she has re-adapted well to life in the wild. She likely will also be found and observed during photographic identification surveys, as has happened on several occasions to date.
Feb. 17, 2009
Over the past two days, Ginger has moved between Robert's Bay and the waters surrounding Bird Key, well within her normal range. She appears to be in good condition, and is engaging in normal activities, although she is not spending much time in the vicinity of other dolphins (not uncommon for this age class).
Feb. 15, 2009
Shore-based tracking indicated that Ginger was in Robert's Bay at about 6:00 pm on Saturday as well as 8:00 this morning. Signals indicate normal respiration patterns, and Robert's Bay is part of her home range.
Feb. 14, 2009
Signals received from shore at 9:00 this morning indicate Ginger is in Robert's Bay.
Feb. 13, 2009
Ginger was observed in Robert's Bay, south of Siesta Bridge, actively feeding and demonstrating normal behaviors at about 9:00 this morning. No other dolphins were with her this morning. Radio-tracking at Robert's Bay indicated that she was present at about 5:30 pm yesterday, absent at 10:00 pm, and present again at 7:00 a.m. She remains well within her home range.
Feb. 12, 2009
Sarasota Dolphin Research Program staff found Ginger near Siesta Bridge this morning, within her normal range, and behaving normally. She was actively feeding, with at least two other resident dolphins nearby.