Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of ...

Cetacean Rehabilitation in TaiwanYang, Wei-Cheng 1 ; Chou, Lien-Shiang 1,2(1) Taiwan Cetacean Society; e-mail: jack0912@msn.com(2) Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology, National Taiwan UniversityRehabilitation <strong>of</strong> cetaceans has improved much in this decade in Taiwan. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>improvements have been due to advancements in technology and o<strong>the</strong>rs to differences in <strong>the</strong>approach to caring for <strong>the</strong>se animals. Since establishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Taiwan Cetacean StrandingNetwork (TCSN) in 1996, <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> cetaceans admitted for rehabilitation has increased. By2001, twenty-three stranded cetaceans have been rehabilitated including five rough-too<strong>the</strong>ddolphins (Steno bredanensis), five pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), three dwarf spermwhales (Kogia simus), four Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), three pantropical spotteddolphins (Stenella attenuata), one spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), one bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncatus), and one melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra). The most commonproblems seen are respiratory problems. O<strong>the</strong>r common problems include GI tract infection,parasites infestation, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, cookie-cutter shark-bitten wounds,skeletal muscle injury, and anthropogenic objects in stomach. All animals that are admitted to <strong>the</strong>critical care pool have a physical examination performed, blood drawn for a CBC and biochemicalanalysis, fecal analysis for parasites, cultures taken when indicated, and an individual treatmentregimen prescribed. Some weak cetaceans that cannot float well by <strong>the</strong>mselves are given 24-hrsupportive care with fluids and antibiotics if <strong>the</strong>ir CBC shows a significant elevation <strong>of</strong> white bloodcells. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rehabilitated cetaceans died in one week. A male adult pygmy sperm whalewith severe respiratory syndrome and hyper<strong>the</strong>rmia died in five days and morbillivirus infectionwas confirmed by using pathology and PCR. Moderate antibody titer to Brucella was detected ina female adult rough-too<strong>the</strong>d dolphin which died after six days <strong>of</strong> rehabilitation. The impact <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se two kinds <strong>of</strong> pathogens to cetaceans in Taiwan should be monitored. Fortunately, a maleadult Risso’s dolphin was successfully rehabilitated after 64 days and released in September 2000and was sighted in Okinawa, Japan. However, we need to make <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> diagnostic equipmentroutinely during <strong>the</strong> rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> cetaceans, such as radiology, sonography, <strong>the</strong>rmography,endoscopy, even magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Facilities also have tobe changed from portable or shallow pools to hospitals designed specifically for <strong>the</strong> better care<strong>of</strong> dolphins and whales.<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Biology and Conservation <strong>of</strong> Small Cetaceans and Dugongs <strong>of</strong> SE Asia 151