- Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has coordinated the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP) since 2000. The Aquarium's marine mammal trainer, Michele Kelley, leads this program and is working closely with representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to insure that we are meeting all guidelines for working with oiled wildlife.
- Audubon set up a special rehabilitation center at the Audubon Aquatic Center at Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species. Upon arriving at the Research Center, each turtle, dolphin or manatee will go through three zones. They start in the Red Zone for a complete veterinary assessment and NOAA-required protocol. They move to the Yellow Zone for washing, medical treatment and observation. They complete the process in the Green Zone, where they are held until Audubon's veterinary staff gives a clean bill of health. The animal will be then released to a NOAA-approved location.
- Audubon's front line staff of aquarists and veterinarians has completed HAZWOPER certification, required for any person working with in the Red and Yellow Zones.
- Audubon's aquatic animal transportation unit is positioned at a staging area near the mouth of the Mississippi River.
- Audubon has been in close contact with members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose professionals are standing by to provide veterinary and rehabilitation services as needed.
I
would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Response Fund or is one
of the 1,000+ people who purchased a special "Rescue Me" t-shirt. There is no way to know
the full extent of the cost of coordinating Louisiana's sea turtle and
marine mammal rescue effort. BP has offered to pay for some of our hard
costs, and a federal grant partially underwrites LMMSTRP's marine mammal
operations, but these sources do not fully fund this important program.
Your support helps Audubon successfully meet this immediate crisis and
sustain LMMSTRP for the long term.
Look for additional
updates on Audubon's activities in the days ahead. In the meantime,
visit our resources page to learn more.
