Modified Endoscopic Removal of Foreign Objects from the Forestomach of a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

We report on the removal of foreign objects from the forestomach of a 200 kg adult male common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Seoul zoo using a modified stainless steel hook and flexible wire snare attached to a gastrointestinal fiberoptic endoscope. The foreign bodies included a 10 × 3.5 cm plastic tube, 4 × 2.0 cm stainless steel pipe, brush, and concrete debris. Our technique using a stainless steel wire hook and snare attached to a gastroscope can be used to remove foreign objects from the forestomach of common bottlenose dolphins.