(Sixth in a series of posts.)
Bringing the whales to the sanctuary falls into essentially three phases:
Health & behavior
In coordination with the on-site care staff, we will be conducting health and behavior evaluations, treatment, rehabilitation and conditioning at the marine park or aquarium where the whales are currently located. This work is to ensure that they are healthy enough for both transport and relocation, and to facilitate a smooth transition from their former facilities to the sanctuary waters.
The initial health & behavior evaluation must be conducted by independent veterinarians, who will also supervise any treatments that are indicated.
Once the whales’ behavioral baselines are understood, they will receive individually tailored rehabilitation and training programs. These will include activities that promote bonding with new caregivers while they are still at Marineland since they will have developed close bonds with the people who have been caring for them for many years, some of whom may join us on the team at the sanctuary. Every effort will be made to include in our conditioning efforts aligning pool temperatures to be closer to that of the sanctuary waters and introducing acoustic elements and other stimuli they will experience in the sanctuary.
Conditioning for transport will involve activities that allow the whales to gain comfort and familiarity with the transport process, like practicing being guided into and out of the stretchers used during transport.
Transport
Transporting the whales to sanctuary entails loading the whales (in their stretchers) into their transport boxes that are filled with water, loading the boxes onto a truck at the original captive care facility, truck transport to an airport, air transport, and then truck transport to the sanctuary site.
Throughout the process, whales will be closely monitored by veterinary and animal care team staff.
Care of the whales at the sanctuary
Upon arrival at the sanctuary, whales will be introduced to a bay pen so they have time to familiarize themselves with the space and the feel of the ocean. Veterinarians and animal care staff will always be working with the whales and closely monitoring their wellbeing.
Once the whales are released into the wider sanctuary space, veterinary and animal husbandry teams will manage their continuing care, including feeding and enrichment, as well as regular medical care.
