The rescued rough-toothed dolphin found stranded on Father’s Day has been diagnosed deaf following hearing tests performed by SeaWorld zoological experts and hearing specialists. Our Animal Rescue Team has been working around the clock for nearly 8 weeks to care for the animal and determine the cause of its stranding. All previous tests, ranging from radiographs to blood tests, showed normal results, leading our experts to believe the dolphin might be suffering from hearing loss.
In dolphins, soft tissue and bone in their lower jaw conveys sound to the ears. The hearing test was conducted by placing electrodes on the dolphin, then different sounds and frequencies were sent to the animal’s jaw to test his response. His reaction to the sounds was measured through the level of brain activity seen on the monitor. This test is very similar to a human hearing test where sounds are sent through headphones to test a human’s response.
The hearing test allowed the experts at our park and the National Marine Mammal Foundation to prove that the animal has a significant degree of hearing loss, which was likely the cause for his stranding .
Since the dolphin has been at our facility, he has shown signs of improvement and is now floating on his own, swimming without support from our animal care experts, and actively seeking food. Our team will continue to work closely with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the next steps for the dolphin’s rehabilitation and care.
To learn more about SeaWorld’s commitment to animals and the environment, visit SeaWorldCares.com.