The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $133,748 Cooperative Agreement under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) to The Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) to provide small cetacean intervention and post-release monitoring services across the United States.
The key objectives of this award are to: 1) Obtain, prepare, and distribute electronic tags for post-release monitoring of injured, out-of-habitat, or stranded small cetaceans; 2) Assist stranding network members with intervention and release planning, including maintenance of the Gulf of Mexico Dolphin Identification System; 3) Provide experienced staff to support stranding network member interventions; 4) Enhance the stranding network's capacity for post-release monitoring through training and equipment; 5) Assist with tracking, analysis, and dissemination of data from tagged animals; and 6) Provide regular reports and help develop publications summarizing case findings. The award period is from Aug 1, 2024 to Jul 31, 2025.