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A dolphin calf found drowned in a pool off the coast of Thailand is being cared for by dozens of vets and volunteers.
Fishermen alerted marine conservationists and provided emergency care until the Irrawaddy dolphin was taken to Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center for veterinary monitoring.
The baby was nicknamed Paradon, roughly translated as “Brother’s Burden”, because those involved knew from day one that saving his life would be no easy task.
Considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Irrawaddy dolphins are found in shallow coastal waters in South and Southeast Asia and in three rivers in Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia. Their existence is threatened by habitat loss, pollution and illegal fishing.
Officials at the Marine Research Center believe there are about 400 Irrawaddy dolphins on the country’s east coast, connecting to Cambodia.
Since Paradon was found by fishermen on July 22, dozens of veterinarians and volunteers have helped care for him at the center in Rayong on the Gulf of Thailand.
Tanaphan Chomchun, a veterinarian at the center, said, “We said among ourselves that his chances of survival are very low.” “Normally, dolphins found stranded on the beach are often in such dire conditions. These dolphins have a very, very slim chance of survival. But we tried our best that day.
The crew put him in a pool of seawater, treated him for pneumonia, and enlisted volunteers to watch him throughout the day. To prevent him from drowning, keep him in the tank and feed him milk, first with a tube, and later with a bottle after he recovers a little strength.
A veterinarian and one or two volunteers stay for each eight-hour shift, and other workers pump and filter water and milk during the day.
After a month Paradon’s condition is improving. The four- to six-month-old calf can now swim and has no signs of infection. But the dolphin, which was 138 cm (4.5 ft) long and weighed about 27 kg (59 lb), was still weak and was not taking in enough milk despite the team’s efforts to feed it every 20 minutes.
Tipunyar Thipjuntar, a 32-year-old financial consultant who is one of the volunteers who accompanies Paradon for childcare shifts, can’t help but snuggle up to him and worry about his progress.
He doesn’t eat enough, but he wants to play. I’m worried that he won’t get enough food,” she said as she fed the sleeping Parado in her arms.
“When you come here to volunteer your time, physical effort, mental focus and money, you want it to grow strong and survive.”
Sumana Kajonwatanakul, director of the marine center, said the paradon will need long-term care, perhaps up to a year, until it is weaned and able to hunt for its own food.
“At best, if we just let it go, the problem is that it can’t get milk. We have to take care of him until he gets his teeth, then we have to train him to eat fish and become part of the pod. This will take very little time,” says Sumana.
Paradon caregivers believe that extended tender loving care is worth it.
“If we can save a dolphin, this will help our knowledge, because there have not been many successful cases in treating this type of animal,” said veterinarian Tanafan. “If we can save him and he survives, we’ll learn a lot from this.”
Secondly, by saving it, by giving it a chance to live, we will raise awareness about the protection of this animal species, which will not be left for long.
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