Dolphin Quest has denied the hunt for missing animals Dolber and Gibbs is a lost cause.

It said the pair, who escaped their pen during enormous storm surges in September 20, could be feasting on teems of mackerel currently in the area.

Dolphin Quest spokesman Chris Heslop said: "They could be out there gorging themselves.

"However, we couldn't get out there recently because the weather has been bad. But if they are eating, we wouldn't see much of them anyway.'' However, he denied the pair could be growing independent.

He said: "The mackerel will move off shore soon.

"We believe the dolphins will be back. Dolber particularly loves attention and will approach boats and people.'' Dolphin Quest face an inquiry over how they lost the dolphins which were battered for hours by debris broken loose from storm swells before they managed to escape.

Yesterday the Department of Agriculture appealed for written submissions from individuals and organisations to put before the inquiry.

They should be sent in by 5 p.m. October 22, 1999, to: The Director, Agriculture and Fisheries, P.O. Box, HM 824, Hamilton HM CX.

Meanwhile there had been several sightings of the missing dolphins off Spanish Point on Monday night and Mr. Heslop urged the public to help out.

He explained: "We found our best sightings have been from shore because it's easier to spot something moving if you are stationary.

"We would urge anyone with a bit of time to spare to keep an eye out for them.'' Last weekend Ann Pabst arrived from the University of North Carolina with $30,000 worth of high-tech kit to help locate the pair.

Her infra red thermal camera can spot a dolphin in the dark.

She explained: "It's very obvious to see a head glowing in the murk.

"It senses heat -- it helps when eyes aren't the best tools -- so we went out in the early morning and late in the evening when it was difficult to see. And it works over a similar distance as the normal range of vision.

"The sophisticated sensors can pick up differences in temperature of less than 0.05 degrees centigrade.'' Not only is it capable of spotting a dolphin, it would also pick up its wake which is slightly warmer than the surrounding water.

When one is looking for a warm-blooded mammal like the dolphin this can be quite an advantage though Dr. Pabst had no luck last weekend -- despite taking to the air in a Parasail.

She said: "We saw a few buoys which have a different temperature from the surrounding water. The team also picked up jetties, small boats and reefs.'' However, human beings create much more of a hot spot in the water.

Dr. Pabst lamented: "If dolphins were as bad at swimming as humans are, they would be very obvious to see.'' The kit also has a diagnostic use.

"It was once used to help diagnose a sea lion which seemed to be favouring one flipper, but there weren't any external symptoms,'' she said.

"We used the infra red thermal camera which showed this huge glowing red spot in its shoulder which was an abscess.

"Horse vets also use the equipment which can pick up a stress fracture in a horse's leg even before it can be visualised by X-rays or a Cat-scan.

"Aquariums and zoos use them and the cattle industry use them to pick up stress in beef cattle.'' Photographs taken on the camera are transferred to computer by disc. A cursor can then pick up the hot spots which indicate a problem.

It has also been used on Dolphin mother Cirrus who was brought back the weekend before last.

Dr. Pabst said: "The glowing stripe down the dorsal fin is two blood vessels bringing blood to heal a minor skin wound.'' However, it is the fate of Dolber and Gibbs which is of most concern at the moment and Dr. Pabst has not ruled out returning to help in the hunt.

If you spot a dolphin, call Dolphin Quest on 239-6957.

SEA