SAN ANTONIO – Animal care specialists at SeaWorld San Antonio recently performed the first-ever cerebrospinal fluid tap on a live bottlenose dolphin.
The female dolphin, named Rimmy, was stranded in September 2017 on Sea Rim State Park, which is south of Port Arthur.
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She was 2 to 3 years old at the time and was rescued by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
The dolphin was treated in Galveston for more than a year for multiple ailments, including pneumonia and nasal parasites.
Officials determined in order for her to be moved to a permanent home, a bacterial infection of the central nervous system or brain needed to be ruled out.
Rimmy had the spinal tap done by a team of specialists and experts at SeaWorld San Antonio, and it was a success.
SeaWorld officials said she recovered and specialists found she did not have the infection of her central nervous system.
SeaWorld officials continue to care for Rimmy while NOAA Fisheries finds her a permanent home.