Dive Into Your Imagination

My internship has drawn to a close, and I am very thankful for all of the experiences I have had working at Mote Marine Lab's Dolphin and Whale Hospital. For the past several months, I have risen at the crack of dawn to dedicate 40+ hours a week for a non-paid position – but all the chemical splatters, ripped jeans, and damp wetsuits have all been worth it! I met many new characters in Florida – human and sea creatures, alike. And I can say with great pride that I will remember these coworkers, friends, and animals, throughout my career.

I have learned so many lessons at Mote that it is hard to know where to begin! I think the most important thing that I have taken away from this experience is that ocean animals need our help - not just the help of you and me, but the help of everyone. Everyone can make a difference by ensuring that we always collect, store and dispose of trash around the water. (And, of course, recycle when possible!) I have heard so many stories of the injuries marine debris can cause for marine mammals and sea turtles. I also learned how important it is to treat wild animals as wild - for instance, it is harmful and illegal to feed wild dolphins.

Specifically, I have discovered that the rehabilitation of wild animals is a huge team effort and requires people who are dedicated and passionate. There is no better example of this than the hospital's volunteer program. Specially-trained volunteers of all ages and backgrounds sign up for shifts so that our dolphin or whale hospital patients are monitored 24 hours a day. Volunteers also help with exams, medicine and feedings, as well as cleaning and scrubbing the hospital pools! Without these volunteers, there is no way the hospital could do everything it does for these animals.

Along the same lines, I have also learned what a tremendous undertaking it is to maintain a functioning and safe environment for the animals in our care. Not only do we have a veterinary and animal care team, but nothing could be accomplished without the maintenance staff! The last thing I considered when I began my internship was how water was transferred to the tanks and how the water temperatures were maintained. It was surprising to find out that the majority of my time at work was spent monitoring the water levels and quality, salinity, and temperatures. In the event of a pipe breaking, a heater malfunctioning or the like, we rely on our maintenance team to help us take care of the animals. The water system may sound like a simple idea, but it is one of the most important aspects of work at Mote, and at any marine center.

Throughout my internship there have been many memorable stories. I saw a young sea turtle begin its life on its own as it hatched from its shell, and I was with a dolphin when his life sadly ended. I assisted in both life saving laser surgeries, and educational necropsies (or animal autopsies). I accompanied Mote's rescue team in response to a dolphin stranding, and I supported dolphin trainers as they cared for, taught, and learned about two wonderful resident dolphins. I helped give a sick sea turtle a blood transfusion. I fed, administered, held steady, scrubbed, defrosted, chopped, weighed, measured, poured, lifted, observed, asked questions, and learned each and every day. How lucky I am!

Several days after the end of my internship, Sy, a loggerhead turtle I helped care for, was released to the wild on the eastern coast of Florida. Sy carried fibropapillomatosis and after successfully recovering from laser surgery to remove its tumors, the turtle was observed at Mote for a period before release. Although I was not able to attend Sy's release, fellow interns sent me photos and told me about the wonderful experience. I am told that as soon as Sy was lowered onto the sand, the turtle raced toward the ocean and paddled away. It makes me so happy to know that Sy is healthy and at home in the ocean! His is a success story that I will always remember!

Moving to Florida was a big change for me. I uprooted myself from my home and loved ones in California in order to follow my dream to work with dolphins. Above all else, this experience has been proof to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to, and I can pursue any dream that I dare to dream. The dolphins I encountered at Mote have been my biggest teachers this year, not only as far as animal medicine and behavior goes, but as far as living life to its fullest. Dolphins truly are magnificent and special creatures! Sadly, many wild dolphins are threatened by humans' negative environmental impact, and this is not fair. We live in this world together, and I believe we should continue to learn from and help one another. Pete, Harley, Moonshine, and Ginger were wonderful animals to learn from, and I am sure they will continue to inspire my career and life choices for years to come.

Thank you for sharing this unforgettable journey with me! I hope to see you again, under the sea!

After working with protected species in Florida, Rebecca has become interested in policy and animal protection issues. In February, she will uproot herself again – this time to Washington DC! – to intern with the Humane Society of the United States. There, she hopes to gain a greater understanding of how laws and legislation can work, along with medicine, to protect animals everywhere.

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