KEYS-BASED MARINE MAMMAL CONSERVANCY HELPS YOUNG DOLPHIN
Florida Keys News Bureau
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys -- Marine mammal experts Sunday began medical assessments on and fed a young dolphin rescued Saturday evening in Key West.
The mammal is about 85 pounds and 67 inches long, according to Robert Lingenfelser, president of the Florida Keys-based Marine Mammal Conservancy. Lingenfelser said he thought the mammal, estimated to be nine months to a year old, is an Atlantic spotted dolphin, but the animal is too young to fully confirm identity without genetic testing.
Lingenfelser said MMC volunteers were able to tube feed the dolphin and then the animal caught three baitfish on his own.
The dolphin was first discovered Feb. 7 in waters adjacent off the Key West Navy property that also is the site of a Coast Guard base. Observers monitored the animal and saw it join a pod of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. But the youngster apparently separated and on Saturday it was discovered off the Key West Yacht Club's docks.
A MMC stranding team used a net to take the dolphin and transported it 100 miles to their rehabilitation center in Key Largo.
The dolphin has been named “Cutter,” after a Coast Guard vessel that is also called a cutter.
Infant and young dolphins need their mothers for nourishment and to learn behaviors necessary for survival in the wild. Consequently, if the dolphin fully recovers it will likely be relocated to a managed care facility for the remainder of its life, Lingenfelser said.
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