The Great Dolphin Rescue

(Photo will be uploaded as soon as possible)

You ever have those times when two related yet seemingly unlinked things seem to happen at the same time? Well, it just happened here at Animal Adventures Inc. You may or may not be aware of the upcoming film, Dolphin Tale 2, that is being released in theaters September 12, a movie I am really looking forward to seeing. So I was watching the music video for the film, Brave Souls, by Cozi Zuehlsdorff, two days ago, when Lizzy alerted me that a number of AAI.'s animal caretakers are heading to the coast to help in the rescue of a breached dolphin!

I couldn't resist missing the opportunity to report on this interesting story, so my trusty, junior photographer, Daniel P. Smithwater, and I headed to the coast to catch up with the rescue team. AAI. workers, Dr. Elizabeth Sorkin, a veterinarian, Kelsey and Kelly Martin, animal welfare experts, Dr. Arizona Stevenson, a zoologist joined up with marine life specialists from the local Riverville Marine Aquarium. The moment Daniel and I rushed out of the car, we found ourselves in a big hullabaloo! Commotion was everywhere. Daniel struggled to take non-blurry pictures. The marine specialists, Kelsy and Kelly were all hustling to get a special carrier to transport the dolphin from the beach to the transportation truck. Of course, I still couldn't see the dolphin through the crowd. To make matters worse, crowds of nosy people were looking on from the sidelines, adding to the noise.

Finally, Elizabeth helped Daniel and I break through the crowd to see the dolphin. Kelsey and a marine specialist named Darlene Margaret were already applying fluids onto the poor animals skin. This dolphin was much smaller than I expected – a baby! I asked Kelsey how old she thought the dolphin was. “Based on its size,” she said, “I believe this baby dolphin is 2-3 months old. She's not nearly old enough to live in the wild without her mother.” Kelsey revealed that both the baby dolphin and her mother had been found on the beach by a local fisherman; unfortunately, the mother died shortly after becoming breached.

Then Darlene explained why it was important to keep pouring water over the dolphin's skin. She's quoted for saying, “We have to keep pouring water on this dolphin because her skin is so sensitive. If we didn't do this, she'd dry out in no time because their skin isn't as good as keeping its water as our is. This is to be expected of course, as dolphins aren't supposed to be on land like this.” With the carrier ready, the scientists and specialists carried the little dolphin from the beach and back to the truck. Then it was time for her to be taken to the Riverville Marine Aquarium. This is kind of interesting, because up until today, I had no idea Riverville had an aquarium.

Daniel and I got back in the truck to follow the truck carrying the poor, little dolphin to the aquarium. Then they unloaded her and placed her into a special pool where she would be in the water but held up by some marine specialists, such as Darlene. “Unfortunately,” she said, “it doesn't seem that this little dolphin will be able to be released back into the wild because she was orphaned before she'd learned all the necessary survival skills needed for life in the wild.” Then I asked what would become of her. Dr. Elizabeth said, “Of course we'll keep her here at the aquarium. There's no need to transport her anywhere else. The poor thing's probably traumatized enough as it is.”

Although this dolphin's been through a lot during the time she was breached and rescued, but she's alright now. Once she's feeling normal, they'll release the baby into the pool with other rescued dolphins. In the meantime though, she's safe in the hands of her caretakers, who have just given her a new name: Faith.

Written by: Mr. Smiley

Photographer: Daniel P. Smithwater

Edited by: Christian Ryan

Disclaimer: We here at Smiley's News claim no ownership to Dolphin Tale 2.

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