Good News

The Marine Life Oceanarium had long been a fixture in Gulfport MS. Thousands of people, me included have long enjoyed the antics of the dolphins and the sea lions. Sadly, it has been demolished and 8 dolphins which were put in a 30 foot high tank were thought to be lost. The tank was submerged by the tidal surge that swept along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and up through Biloxi Back Bay, the Biloxi River, and the Tchoutacaboufa River. The dolphins were thought to have swam out into the Gulf of Mexico when the tank was submerged.

The dolphins have been spotted at the entrance to the Port of Gulfport harbor and plans are under way to round them up and send them to facilities in Florida. Teams are feeding the dolphins and giving them medication. Sadly, there has been no word of the missing sea lions. Most of the dolphins and sea lions were evacuated to inland pools and those are safe and have been transported to out of state facilities. The tanks in which the eight dolphins and the sea lions were held at Marine Life were undamaged but the tidal surge made it possible for them to swim away. For further information go to Dolphins R Us.

Thanks to Mark for pointing this out:

Most of the tenacious sea lions that lost shelter during the storm have since been rescued. Public response has been instrumental in finding the lost sea lions who have been discovered on back porches, under houses, amid debris piles, and keeping cool in neighboring bays and swimming pools. Katrina claimed the lives of five, and two are still missing.