Middle Keys Whale Shark Gets Some Emergency Veterinary Help

July 18, 2009

Release from: KeysNet.com

A whale shark that's become the Middle Keys' most famous resident over the last month was given a hand Wednesday by a pair of good Samaritans.

Veterinarian Doug Mader and Turtle Hospital Administrator Ryan Butts jumped into the water underneath the Vaca Cut Bridge, where the 25-foot shark has been encamped, to cut loose monofilament fishing line wrapped around its tail.

Mader says fishing line can cut off circulation and cause animals to lose body parts.

"This is an injury we see a lot in manatees and turtles. The monofilament wraps around the limb or flipper and it strangulates the blood supply to the limb and it dies and falls off," Mader said.

Butts had been out looking for the shark on several occasions after receiving tips of its whereabouts, but to no avail. This time, someone called and volunteered to stay with the shark until he arrived. He headed to Vaca Cut, picking up Mader on the way.

Mader jumped in front of the shark and allowed the current to push him over top of the animal. He then grabbed onto the shark's tail, disappeared under the water and came back up with the fishing line after "15 or 20 seconds," Butts said.

"But when we were in the water, it seemed like a long time," Butts said.

The fishing line was attached to a hook in the shark's tail that Mader was unable to remove. He said it would eventually rust and fall out. The shark also had an apparent propeller cut on its tail.

"I've never even seen one in the wild and it was pretty impressive. I think this was pretty spectacular ... to see one and be able to actually help it," Mader said. "Fortunately, I think it will heal just fine."

But Mader was quick to reiterate advice Butts gave recently to avoid the temptation of swimming with the shark.

"It's really skittish right now from all the boats and people jumping in the water right now. As soon as he saw me, he just took off. Definitely go down there and see it, but you can see it from the bridge," he said.

Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long but generally are considered gentle. They normally live in deeper water, but this shark has found a good feeding source under the bridge near mile marker 53. It's known for the strong currents moving through.

"I would suspect it's there because the current is so strong and the plankton and jellyfish are thick. It's just kind of idly swimming in the current and it's a big current of food coming right through the cut," Mader said.