Rescued smalltooth sawfish passes away

Related video: Sawfish arrives at Mote facility

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A smalltooth sawfish rescued in early April has died despite rehabilitation efforts.

The Mote Marine Laboratory (Mote), along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), rescued the sawfish on April 5, after it was spotted swimming in circles in Cudjoe Bay in the Florida Keys.

Following the rescue, the first of its kind attempted to help the mysteriously afflicted species , the sawfish was taken to Mote’s Lower Keys facility before being taken to a facility in Sarasota a few days later.

From April 11 to May 2, the animal was treated at Mote’s quarantine and rehabilitation facility with hopes the animal would recover enough to be rereleased into the waters.

Mote said the decision to humanely euthanize the sawfish came from guidance from NOAA and FWC once the animal’s health began deteriorating.

Related video: Researchers rescue endangered sawfish in Florida Keys

“It was always our cautious hope to be able to utilize the best available science for the rehabilitation and release of the sawfish,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. “Although heartbreaking, this outcome was not surprising. Mote’s several decades of active rescue and rehabilitation efforts have taught us that these efforts aren’t always successful in fully rehabilitating compromised stranded animals. Mote has extensive experience treating sick and injured marine wildlife, and we worked restlessly for 24 hours a day to provide the most advanced treatment available. Sadly, even with our best efforts, the animal was ultimately too compromised to recover.”

The sawfish’s cause of distress is currently unknown. A necropsy will be performed by FWC with hopes of discovering what is afflicting smalltooth sawfish in Florida .

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