>>> IN THE LAND OF MIGHTY RIVERS, LAZY BAYOUS, WOODLANDS, WETLANDS, AND UNDERWATER GARDENS, BOUNTY OF NATURE COMES ALIVE IN AMERICA'S DELTA.

THERE ARE CREATURES THAT HAVE SURVIVED HERE FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS, PRECARIOUS BALANCE OF LIFE.

>> ALL INTERCONNECTIVITY.

WHEN YOU PULL ONE STRING, IT PULSE THE FIBER OF THE ENTIRE FOOD WEB.

>> NEW TECHNOLOGY, EXCITING DISCOVERIES, HELPING TO SAVE SPECIES IN PERIL.

EFFORT TO PROTECT LIFE THAT IS THREATENED AND ENDANGERED IN THE GULF.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES, KEEPING OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES HEALTHY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WILDLIFE MATTERS.

AND BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> AT THE MOUTH OF THE LARGEST RIVER DELTA IN NORTH AMERICA LIES A WARM WATER OCEAN BASIN COVERING 600,000 SQUARE MILES.

IT IS THE GULF OF MEXICO.

ITS UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY, ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE ECOSYSTEMS ON THE PLANET.

>> INTERTIDAL ZONES, WHERE THE TIDE RISES AND FALLS, A ZONE THAT MARK A DRAMATIC CHANGE BETWEEN TWO HABITATS, WATER COLUMN, LAND ITSELF, SO IT IS A VERY PRODUCTIVE ZONE.

>> THEN THERE IS THE DEEP DROP OFF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF.

ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AREAS IN THE GULF AND SCIENTISTS HAVE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE IN LEARNING ABOUT LIFE HERE.

>> OFF OF LOUISIANA, WE STILL HAVE THE HIGHEST IN DIVERSITY OF THE GROUPS WE'VE LOOKED AT.

HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IN THE CAMPECHE BANK OFF MEXICO, FLORIDA KEYS, HIGHER THAN WE FIND IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO, WHICH WAS REALLY A SURPRISE TO US.

>> SCIENTISTS HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 15,000 GULF SPECIES, AND EACH PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS INTRICATE WEB OF LIFE.

>> WHEN YOU GET TO OFFSHORE WATERS, THERE IS VERY WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ORGANISMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF WHALES.

SPERM WHALES, HUMPBACK WHALES.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THERE ARE KILLER WALES OFF OF GULF OF MISSISSIPPI.

THERE ARE MANY VERY LARGE SHARKS IN THE WATER, TIGER SHARKS, BULL SHARKS, WHITE-TIP SHARKS, HAMMERHEADS, PROBABLY MOST OF THE TURTLE SPECIES, HAWKS, RIDLEYS, THE GREAT BIG OCEAN SUN FISH OUT THERE.

MANY OF THESE -- THEY'RE TIED TO VERY UNIQUE FOOD WEBS AND THEY INVOLVE THINGS LIKE GIANT JELLY FISH AND OTHER SPECIES THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER SEE.

>> GULF SPECIES FACE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES.

WORLD'S OCEANS ARE WARMING AND BECOMING MORE ACIDIC.

RISING SEAS, POWERFUL GULF STORMS, AND COASTAL EROSION DEVASTATE CRITICAL ESTUARIES AND COASTAL HABITATS.

>> AND WHEN YOU LOSE COASTAL HABITATS, YOU LOSE COASTAL ORGANISMS.

>> AND THERE ARE OTHER THREATS.

OVERFISHING, INVASIVE PREDATORY SPECIES POLLUTION, CONTAMINANTS.

>> MOST HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DEAD ZONE DEVELOPMENT, NUTRIENTS -- LOW OXYGEN.

THAT IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS THERE WITH THE BP SPILL.

>> LONG TERM IMPACTS OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER ARE BEING DEEPLY MONITOR, INVESTIGATION, NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES ESTIMATE.

THIS PROCESS FORMALLY DOCUMENTS A SPILL'S IMPACTS TO AMERICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDES FOR RESTORATION FOR THOSE INJURED RESOURCES.

GATHERING DATA AND STUDYING LIFE IN THE GULF WILL HELP PROTECT THIS RESOURCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

FORTUNATELY SUCCESS STORIES GIVE CONSERVATIONISTS HOPE.

VISITORS TO THIS REGION HAVE LONG REVERED LOUISIANA'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE BIRD, THE PELICAN.

>> IN THE 1950s, WE RECOGNIZED THAT BROWN PELICANS WERE DECLINING IN LOUISIANA.

IN 1963, THEY WERE LOCALLY EXTINCT IN THE STATE.

>> SCIENCE HAS DISCOVERED THAT PESTICIDES, MAINLY DDT, THAT FLOAT INTO THE SYSTEM CAUSE DEFECTS IN THE SHELLS OF PELICAN EGGS LEADING TO THE DEATH OF THE EMBRYOS.

AFTER THE SUBSTANCE WAS BANNED IN 1972, A MASSIVE PROJECT BEGAN TO BRING THE BIRD BACK TO THESE BARRIER ISLANDS, SPEARHEADED BY LOUISIANA'S DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES WITH THE HELP OF THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSIONER.

>> THESE BIRDS WERE TRANSLOCATED AS YOUNGSTERS FROM FLORIDA ON TO THREE ISLANDS.

1,200 OR SO SMALL BIRDS WERE BROUGHT IN, IMPRINTED ON THE ISLANDS, AND MOVED FROM QUEEN BESS ISLAND TO RACCOON ISLAND.

THEY NESTED THERE.

NOW WE ARE 16 TO 20,000 NESTING PAIRS OF BROWN PELICAN IN THE STATE.

>> THEN IN 2010, THE BP OIL SPILL PRESENTED AN UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO NESTING ISLANDS AND THE FOOD SOURCES FOR THE SEA BIRDS.

FOR THOSE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE BIRDS, THE SPILL WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT.

>> IT WAS HEART BREAKING SEEING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AND WHAT THOSE BIRDS HAD TO ENDURE.

MANY OF THEM DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IT WAS -- IT WAS TOUGH.

>> WHILE INTENSIVE MONITORING WILL TRACK THE SPILL'S LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE PELICANS, ONGOING BARRIER ISLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN RESTORING THE BIRD'S HABITAT.

>> THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE REALLY KIND OF TOUGH TO BUILD, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE AND THEY'RE REMOTE BUT THEY PROVIDE THAT CRITICAL HABITAT THAT WE'RE LOSING EVERY DAY.

>> A HOST OF THREATENED AND ENDANGERED COASTAL SHORE BIRDS ALSO DEPEND ON THESE ISLANDS.

>> THIS IS A SANDY SPIT OFF OF RACCOON ISLAND, BARRIER ISLAND OFF OF THE COAST OF LOUISIANA.

IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF SHORE BIRDS THAT USE IT EACH YEAR.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A PIPING PLOVER OVER THERE.

>> A SMALL SHORE BIRD OFTEN IDENTIFIED BY THE ORANGE LEGS -- MAIN HABITAT IN THE NORTHERN CENTRAL REGION OF AMERICA HAS DIMINISHED AND LEFT THE TINY BIRDS ENDANGERED.

EACH WINTER THEY MIGRATE THOUSANDS OF MILES TO BEACHES ON THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS.

>> THOSE ARE SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN IN THE STATE BECAUSE THEY'RE DECLINING RAPIDLY, AND IT'S CERTAINLY HABITAT LOST, DISTURBANCE OF BEACHES AND OTHER PLACES THAT THEY NEST.

>> AGGRESSIVELY PRESERVING THIS HABITAT WILL GIVE THE BIRDS A FIGHTING CHANCE.

>> WE HAVE TO PROTECT THESE AREAS FOR THESE SPECIES, FOOD RESOURCES NEED TO BE PROTECTED, AND KEPT FREE FROM CONTAMINANTS OR WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THOSE SPECIES.

>> COASTAL LAND SPECIES NOT THE ONLY ONES AT RISK.

GULF WATERS ARE HOME TO MARINE SPECIES THAT ALSO LEAD A PRECARIOUS EXISTENCE.

>> PEOPLE OFTEN ASK US HOW DO WE WATCH THESE BIG FISH.

>> GULF STURGEON TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK 200 MILLION YEARS.

TODAY IT IS FOUND ONLY IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO AND TRIBUTE -- TRIB -- TRIBUTARIES.

>> A LONG-TERM EFFORT TO MONITOR THE RECOVERY OF THIS SPECIES TO ITS NATIVE WATERS ACROSS THE GULF COAST.

>> PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS ABILITY TO JUMP COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER, GULF STURGEON, SHARK-LIKE TAIL, BONY SHIELD OF ARMOR AND THE MOUTH THAT PROJECTS FROM THE BOTTOM OF ITS HEAD TO FEED FROM THE BOTTOM.

>> THE FISH IS ONE THAT MIGRATES BETWEEN SALTWATER AND FRESHWATER.

IN THE WINTERTIME, GULF OF MEXICO FEEDING AND IN THE SPRING THEY RETURN UPRIVER TO SPAWN AND RESIDE IN THE RIVERS ALL SUMMER LONG.

SO, THEY MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FRESH WATER ENVIRONMENTS AND OUR SALTWATER ENVIRONMENTS.

WE PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST FIVE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SEE HERE FROM -- AT THIS LOCATION.

>> WHAT IS IT NOW -- >> 29860.

>> THE GULF STURGEON RANGES FROM THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WESTWARD TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

WHILE THEY THRIVE IN THE RIVER, THEIR OVERALL FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

EXPLOITED IN THE EARLY 1900 FOR THEIR MEAT AND CAVIAR THEY HAVE FACED THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS ON COASTAL RIVERS THAT BLOCK THEM FROM REACHING TRADITIONAL SPAWNING SITES, WATER POLLUTION AND HABITAT LOSS ALSO ADDED TO THEIR DECLINE.

IN 1991, GULF STURGEON WAS ADDED TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST BRINGING KNEW RESOURCE -- NEW RESOURCES AND TOOLS -- AND NEW DISCOVERIES HOW THE FISH COMMUNICATE.

>> FISH PRODUCE SOUND LIKE BIRDS AND FROGS DO AND THEY USE SOUNDS FOR MUCH OF THE SAME REASONS THAT OTHER ANIMALS USE SOUND, SUCH AS TERRITORY DEFENSE OR COURTSHIP.

THE FISH FROM THE DIFFERENT RIVERS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE TEMPORAL PATTERN.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE RHYTHM OR DIALECT, WHICH IS INTERESTING, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HUMANS, WE ALL HAVE DIALECTS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, WE SOUND DIFFERENT.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME IS TRUE FOR FISHES.

>> RESEARCHERS HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT CHALLENGES THAT THE GULF STURGEON FACES.

>> THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE PRIMARY TRIBUTARY OF THE PEARL RIVER -- THE PEARL RIVER BASIN.

>> HISTORICALLY THE GREAT FISH THRIVED THIS FAR WEST, TOO, BUT THAT CHANGED IN THE 1960s, WHEN NEW STRUCTURES OR SILLS BLOCKED THE RIVER'S FLOW.

>> SINCE THIS PROJECT WAS BUILT, RIVER HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE GULF.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET A NATURAL FLOW BACK UP INTO THE UPPER REACHES ALL OF THE WAY BACK TO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SILLS LIKE THIS AND THE ONE IN THE PEARL RIVER, PREVENTS THE FISH MIGRATION.

>> NOT ONLY TO THE SILLS KEEP STURGEON FROM SPAWNING, THEY KEEP OTHER MIGRATORY FISH PRIZED BY RECREATIONAL ANGLERS FROM MAKING IT UPRIVER.

>> WE HAVE AT LEAST 18 SPECIES OF MIGRATORY FISH THAT WANT TO MIGRATE UPSTREAM EACH YEAR FOR VARIOUS SPAWNING AND -- AND THIS STRUCTURE IS INHIBITING A LOT OF FISH MIGRATION.

>> EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE SILLS AND RESTORE THE RIVERS' NATURAL FLOW AND SPAWNING GROUNDS ARE UNDERWAY WITH INPUT AND SUPPORT FROM THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

>> WE LOOK AT ONE FISH, FOCUS ON ONE FISH, BUT IT IS TO IMPROVE THE HABITAT OF EVERYTHING.

>> SUCCESSFUL HABITAT RESTORATION AND SPECIES PROTECTION IS HELPING TO RESTORE ANOTHER ENDANGERED GULF SPECIESES, THE FLORIDA MANATEE.

SCIENTISTS DOCUMENT THE NUMBERS BY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION, USUALLY SCAR PATTERNS INFLICTED BY BOAT STRIKES.

BOATS POSE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO MANATEES.

REGULATIONS ENACTED IN FLORIDA IN 1989 HAVE HELPED THEM REBOUND IN THEIR CENTRAL FORAGING GROUNDS, ENCOURAING BOATERS TO SLOW DOWNEN BE MORE MINDFUL OF THE SPECIES.

MANATEES ALSO VENTURE AS FAR WEST AS TEXAS.

BUT THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

THESE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF A MANATEE SPOTTED SOUTH OF NEW ORLEANS.

>> SOMETIMES MANATEES WILL VENTURE OVER INTO LOUISIANA, AND SPEND THE SUMMER MONTHS OR WARM MONTHS, AND TYPICALLY THEY WILL GO BACK TO FLORIDA, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE FOR THEM TO DO.

BUT OCCASIONALLY FOR WHATEVER REASON, ONE WILL STAY HERE DURING THE WINTER.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS MANATEE WAS TRAPPED FAR FROM HOME WHEN IT TURNED COLDER.

>> ONCE THE WATER TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW 68 DEGREES, THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN.

THEY'RE UNABLE TO SURVIVE.

>> AND AS MANATEE POPULATIONS AND WATER TEMPERATURES IN THE GULF INCREASE, SCIENTISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO VENTURE OUTSIDE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL HABITAT RANGES, WHICH COULD PUT THEM AT HIGHER RISK.

>> FILTERED IN THROUGH HERE.

>> MOVE AROUND THE TANKS.

>> SPARKING THE INTEREST OF BUDDING MARINE SCIENTISTS CAN ENLIST NEW TALENT -- THESE STUDENTS ARE STUDYING THE KEMPS RIDLEY SEA TURTLES, REHABILITATED HERE.

FIVE OF THE WORLD'S ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES LIVE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THE KEMPS RIDLEY, RECENTLY TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, THE DOCTOR HAS BEEN STUDYING THE KEMPS RIDLEY FOR 30 YEARS AND TEACHING A NEW GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS HOW TO PROTECT THEM.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO SEE JUVENILE KEMPS RIDLEY.

IT IS AMAZING.

THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN TURN -- INSPIRE A STUDENT.

>> THEIR WORK REPRESENTS A LARGER INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO SAVE THE SPECIES.

>> THE KEMPS RIDLEY IS ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING SEA TURTLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

THEY COULD FIND IT THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO OF AND NOBODY KNEW WHERE THEY NESTED.

IT WAS A MYSTERY.

BUT IN 1947, MEXICAN FILM MAKER SOLVED THAT -- ESTIMATED 40,000 TURTLES NESTED IN ONE SMALL STRETCH OF BEACH.

THE FILM LED TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS SITE WAS THE SINGLE NESTING SITE FOR THE ENTIRE SPECIESES.

THAT FACT ALONE WAS TROUBLING, AS THE KEMPS RIDLEY POPULATION BEGAN TO PLUMMET.

IN 1966, THEY STARTED ON THE MAIN NESTING BEACH OF PROTECTING THE TURTLES.

THE PROBLEM, THEY HAD BEEN POACHING EGGS ON THE NEST.

>> THE KEMPS RIDLEY NUMBERS CONTINUED TO DECLINE.

IN MID 1980s, DOWN TO 720 NESTS FOR THE ENTIRE THREE-MONTH NESTING SEASON.

IT WAS THE POINT WHERE WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE BIOLOGICALLY EXTINCT.

>> ARRAY OF NEW PROJECTS HELPED THE POPULATION REBOUND.

HATCHLINGS INTRODUCED TO A SECOND NESTING SITE IN TEXAS, HOPING THAT THEY WOULD IMPRINT ON A NEW BEACH.

SCIENTISTS COLLECTED AND INCUBATED EGGS AND TIGHTLY CONTROLLED THEIR RELEASE BACK INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

>> SO THEY'RE PUTTING THOUSANDS OF HATCHLINGS IN THE WATER, YET THE POPULATION CONTINUES TO DECLINE.

THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED ONE THREAT AND TAKEN CARE OF IT BUT IT WASN'T THE ONLY THREAT.

THE TURTLES WERE NOT MATURING IN THE WILD.

>> BEGINNING IN THE 1990s, LARGE COMMERCIAL -- SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE THIS HAS HELPED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES, BUT IN RECENT YEARS, RESEARCHERS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE NUMBER OF TURTLE STRANDINGS AND DEATHS ALONG THE GULF COAST, AND IN 2010 THE GULF OIL SPILL ADDED TO THE THREAT.

>> HAS YEAR, PROBABLY 15, 20 TURTLES IN HERE.

AND I SEEN IT AFTER THE OIL SPILL WHERE THE ENTIRE BUILDING WAS FULL OF TURTLES.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

>> THE OIL SPILL'S OVERALL IMPACT ON THE TURTLES IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

DISASTER DID CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

THROUGH INCREASED SATELLITE TAGGING AND TRACKING.

>> THROUGH THE DATA THAT WE'RE GATHERING ON CONCLUSIONS WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE, WE ARE UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THIS AREA IS TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT, TO THEIR SPECIES.

>> THE TURTLES LIKE TO HANG OUT NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, VEGETATION AND FOOD TO POWER THEIR MIGRATION.

>> IT IS A MAJOR MIGRATORY CORRIDOR FOR THE TURTLES.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE OIL SPILL.

LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HIT SOME MAJOR NESTING BEACH, IT HIT THE MAJOR MIGRATING CORRIDOR FOR THE KEMPS RIDLEY WHEN THEY'RE ALL GOING DOWN THERE.

>> NOW IT IS A NUMBERS GAME.

AND EACH AND EVERY TURTLE IS IMPORTANT.

MEET JAWS, THIS JUVENILE KEMPS RIDLEY WAS CRITICALLY INJURED AND RESCUED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES STRANDING RESPONSE TEAM AIDED BY PARTNERS AT THE AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUTE.

THE NAME JAWS CAME OUT OF THE EFFORT TO SAVE THE TURTLE'S LIFE.

>> THIS TURTLE CAME TO US ABOUT 13 MONTHS AGO, PROPELLER STRIKE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER FACE THAT FRACTURED HER JAW AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTED HER EYES.

WE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE JAW, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL, HOWEVER, IT ALLOWED THE SURROUNDING TISSUES TO HEAL AND KNEW -- NOW SHE CAN EAT WELL ON HER OWN.

>> JAWS WILL FIND PROTECTION IN THE ARTIFICIAL HABITAT SURROUNDING THIS OFFSHORE OIL RIG, HOPEFULLY LONG ENOUGH TO REPRODUCE.

SAVING THESE TURTLES IS AN UPHILL BATTLE AND THE PUBLIC PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN REPORTING INJURED ANIMALS.

>> WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE OUT ON THE WATER AT ALL TIMES COVERING THE VAST COASTLINE OF LOUISIANA.

WE GREATLY DEPEND ON THESE REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC TO HELP US PRESERVE SUCH A GREAT ENDANGERED SPECIES.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO GIVE ANYONE OF THESE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE BACK TO THE POPULATION.

ONE, TWO, THREE -- HERE SHE GOES!

>> GULF OF MEXICO IS ALSO HOME TO A VARIETY OF OTHER LARGE MARINE ANIMALS.

CAPTURED ON HOME VIDEO OFF THE COAST OF ALABAMA AND OCCASIONALLY SPOTTED BY SURPRISED ANGLERS.

LARGER WHALES LIKE SPERM WHALES ALSO INHABIT THE GULF.

THERE ARE 28 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND ALL OF THEM ARE PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

THEY ARE NOT IN DANGER, BUT ARE VALUED AS AN IMPORTANT SPECIES FO THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> ONE OF THE GULF'S MOST VISIBLE AND PLAYFUL MARINE MAMMALS IS THE DOLPHIN.

IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA IS HOME TO A LARGE GROUP OF BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS.

>> I LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE SO RELATABLE TO HUMANS.

THEY'RE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT CREATURES.

THEY LIKE TO HAVE FUN LIKE WE DO.

AND THEY ARE VERY SOCIAL.

I LOVE, I LOVE THE DOLPHINS, YEAH.

>> THERE IS CAUSE FOR ALARM IN PROTECTING THESE CREATURES.

THIS MORNING, WORLD'S TOP DOLPHIN EXPERTS ARE SEARCHING THE BAY TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF THESE ANIMALS.

WHY HERE?

BEGINNING IN 2009 AND 2010, SCIENTISTS REPORTED INCREASING NUMBERS OF DOLPHIN DEATHS ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF COAST, BUT PARTICULARLY IN LOUISIANA'S COASTAL ZONE.

FEDERAL PARTNERS WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES TO FORMALLY AND LEGALLY DESIGNATE THE RASH OF DOLPHIN DEATHS AS WHAT IS OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS AN UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT.

THEN IN THE SPRING OF 2010, WHEN THE BP OIL SPILL HIT, THE BAY RECEIVED SOME OF THE HEAVIEST OILING ON THE GULF COAST.

FOLLOWING THE SPILL, DOLPHIN DEATHS HAVE INCREASED EVEN MORE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME DOLPHINS RIGHT NOW.

>> IT IS A DELICATE DANCE TO CAPTURE THESE FRAGILE CREATURES AND RESEARCHERS TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE ANIMALS THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP.

>> NET OUT, NET OUT.

DOLPHIN IN THE COMPASS OFF ARC'S BOW.

DOLPHIN IN THE COMPASS.

>> SLOWLY AND CERTAINLY THE ANIMAL -- THE SCIENTISTS CAREFULLY MOVE IN.

ONCE THEY HAVE THE DOLPHIN SAFELY IN HAND, THEY BRING HIM ON BOARD FOR A FULL MEDICAL WORK-UP.

THIS EXAMINATION IS PART OF THE BP'S SPILL NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH OF THESE ANIMALS.

IF WE CAN DO A FULL VETERINARY EXAMINATION, DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND, TAKE SAMPLES FOR BLOOD AND BLOOD WORK, IT IS LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND GET A COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.

>> SPECIMENS GATHERED FROM THE DOLPHINS ARE PAINSTAKINGLY HANDLED IN THE PROCESS.

THIS TEAMS MONITORS THE CLOCK AND THE DOLPHIN'S REACTION TO THE EXAMINATION.

ANY SIGNS OF STRESS, AND HE WILL BE RELEASED.

IT IS A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH A COMMON GOAL, TO FIND OUT WHAT IS MAKING THESE DOLPHINS SICK.

>> IN 2011, NOAA AND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE FISHERIES, CHICAGO -- OTHER PARTNERS IN THE ONGOING NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT INVESTIGATION PROCESS, CAME OUT AND CAPTURED 31 DOLPHINS.

A CONTROL SITE, A NON-OIL SITE AND COMPARING THE BAY WHICH WAS HEAVILY OILED BY THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL.

>> WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE DOLPHINS -- THEY HAVE -- WE THINK THAT THEY HAVE HAD A HIGHER AND MORE INTENSE LEVEL OF EXPOSURE THAN OTHER DOLPHINS.

THE DOLPHINS TEND TO BE THINNER.

WE'RE ALSO FINDING THAT THE DOLPHINS IN THE BLOOD SAMPLES HAVE SIGNS OF STRESS.

THEIR HORMONE LEVELS ARE DIFFERENT AFTER CAPTURE THAN DOLPHINS CAPTURED IN SARASOTA BAY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS HIGHER PREVALENCE OF LUNG DISEASE IN THE DOLPHINS FROM -- EXPOSURE TO OIL, EITHER DIRECTLY FROM INHALING IT OR FROM A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONSE.

>> MARKING THE FIN WITH A UNIQUE BRAND.

IT DOESN'T HURT THE DOLPHIN.

IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO EASILY IDENTIFY HIM IN THE FUTURE.

THEN THEY LET THEM GO.

[APPLAUSE] >> KEEPING CLOSE WATCH ON THESE DOLPHINS WILL BE KEY TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF RECENT DEATHS.

>> SOME OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE CAPTURED DURING THE DOLPHIN HELD ASSESSMENTS IN 2011 AND 2013 WERE -- THESE ANIMALS HAVE A UNIQUE LETTER AND NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THEM.

Y IS A LETTER ASSIGNED -- THERE IS NORMALLY A TWO DIGIT NUMBER FOLLOWING THAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, ANECDOTAL REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING ANIMALS THAT THEY SEE OUT FISHING AND THEY CALL THAT IN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES AND WE DOCUMENT THESE SIGHTINGS AND IT HELPS US TRACK AND FOLLOW THE ANIMALS.

>> BIOLOGISTS VIEW THE PUBLIC AS A VITAL PART OF THE TEAM WORKING TO PROTECT THE DOLPHINS' HEALTH.

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS CONTACT WITH THE ANIMALS, INCLUDING FEEDING THEM AND FOLLOWING THEM IN BOATS.

>> OUR BOATS ARE GOING FASTER AND FASTER.

ALTHOUGH DOLPHINS ARE AGILE, ECO-LOCATION, YOU THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A LOT OF BOATS GOING FAST.

IF YOU SEE DOLPHINS, STEER AROUND.

ALSO, IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, LIKE MAYBE A FISHING LINE ON A DORSAL FIN OR ONE THAT IS NOT SWIMMING CORRECTLY, PLEASE REPORT IT TO US.

EVERYBODY SEES THEM AND THEY'RE AMAZING AT THEIR BEAUTY.

VERY MAJESTIC ANIMALS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO FRAGILE.

>> PROTECTING THE FRAGILE WEB OF LIFE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS CRITICAL, FROM THE EXTENSIVE SALT MARSHES, SHORELINES, DEEPWATER ENVIRONMENTS, THE GULF PROVIDES SUB STIN NANCE TO A HOST OF BIRDS AND -- >> THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND PEOPLE I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS, REALIZING WHAT RESOURCES ARE AND HOW WE DO DEPEND ON THEM AND HOW THEY CAN BE INDICATORS ON THE STATE, ECOSYSTEM, ISSUES INVOLVED, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE AND WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THAT AND BE ATTUNE TO THAT AND TRY TO REVERSE THOSE THINGS AND I THINK A LOT OF US DO AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THAT.

♪♪ >> FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-973-7246, OR GO ONLINE TO WWW.lpb.org.

THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES, KEEPING OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES HEALTHY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WILDLIFE MATTERS.

AND BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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