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New England Aquarium Donates Ambulance to UNE's Marine Rehab Center for Whales and Porpoises
The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) has been given a used ambulance from the marine animal stranding program at Boston's New England Aquarium. The donated vehicle will be used by MARC for its cetacean (porpoises and small whales) rescue program.
MARC is authorized to rescue sick and injured (stranded) cetaceans along the Maine coastlines of York, Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties (the New Hampshire border to Camden, Maine). The cetacean response is shared jointly with New England Aquarium.
The vehicle is a 1994 Ford Econoline diesel with a med-tech (ambulance) body. The ambulance, donated to the Aquarium by a Boston ambulance company, was originally designed for humans, then converted for marine animal use.
MARC will use the vehicle to pick up stranded cetaceans, deliver them to the rehabilitation center located in UNE's Marine Science Education and Research Center in Biddeford, and ultimately transport the rehabbed animals to their ocean release sites.
Keith Matassa, MARC director, said the donated vehicle is a good example of how the stranding network works to help all of its members.
"The rehabilitation facilities in the Stranding Network across the United States operate primarily on donations," Matassa explained. "No equipment goes to waste - if one organization upgrades its equipment or facility, then extra equipment is offered to another facility- a win-win situation. Such is the case with this ambulance. The ambulance company donated a newer ambulance to New England Aquarium, and they donated the older aquarium to us."
MARC is the only facility in Northern New England licensed by the National Marine Fisheries Service to rehabilitate small cetaceans and sea turtles.
UNE's Marine Science Center combines education, research and marine animal rehabilitation in a single facility.
(Press release issued April 4, 2005)
The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) has been given a used ambulance from the marine animal stranding program at Boston's New England Aquarium. The donated vehicle will be used by MARC for its cetacean (porpoises and small whales) rescue program.
MARC is authorized to rescue sick and injured (stranded) cetaceans along the Maine coastlines of York, Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties (the New Hampshire border to Camden, Maine). The cetacean response is shared jointly with New England Aquarium.
The vehicle is a 1994 Ford Econoline diesel with a med-tech (ambulance) body. The ambulance, donated to the Aquarium by a Boston ambulance company, was originally designed for humans, then converted for marine animal use.
MARC will use the vehicle to pick up stranded cetaceans, deliver them to the rehabilitation center located in UNE's Marine Science Education and Research Center in Biddeford, and ultimately transport the rehabbed animals to their ocean release sites.
Keith Matassa, MARC director, said the donated vehicle is a good example of how the stranding network works to help all of its members.
"The rehabilitation facilities in the Stranding Network across the United States operate primarily on donations," Matassa explained. "No equipment goes to waste - if one organization upgrades its equipment or facility, then extra equipment is offered to another facility- a win-win situation. Such is the case with this ambulance. The ambulance company donated a newer ambulance to New England Aquarium, and they donated the older aquarium to us."
MARC is the only facility in Northern New England licensed by the National Marine Fisheries Service to rehabilitate small cetaceans and sea turtles.
UNE's Marine Science Center combines education, research and marine animal rehabilitation in a single facility.
(Press release issued April 4, 2005)
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