ABSTRACT
Comprehensive health assessment studies using capture–release of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, have become part of long-term monitoring efforts (Wells et al. 2004), investigations of die-offs (Schwacke et al. 2010), assessing pollution impacts, and natural resource damage assessments (Schwacke et al. 2014). These studies have benefited from the advances in bottlenose dolphin health diagnostics and treatments developed for managed and rehabilitated animals. This chapter focuses on capture–release health assessments of nearshore and coastal bottlenose dolphins with a description of the advances in diagnostics over time.
