Dolphin Tales: Do dolphins mourn?
Two dolphins are back in deeper waters after being rescued from a shallow lagoon along Pine Island Creek on the east side of Pine Island, near Matlacha Pass.
As a social animal, dolphins spend their lives cultivating social relationships. When a pod mate dies, dolphins mourn. They will push the dead body around in the water sometimes for weeks.
On Dec. 10, 2024, two adult female bottlenose dolphins were found pushing around a deceased dolphin calf in a small lagoon that was only a few feet deep at high tide. The only entrance to the lagoon was a very shallow mangrove tunnel that the dolphins were unlikely able to navigate under normal circumstances. Our winter tides are very low and dolphins can get trapped.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, FWC coordinated a rescue with about 25 people and a LCSO helicopter crew, which helped to spot the dolphins. The rescue team quickly moved the dolphins to a floating mat, where they were assessed by the team’s veterinarian. Both dolphins were females and a bit underweight. They were pushing that baby and not eating. Maybe taking turns. A quick snack.
One female was injured. She was given antibiotics, before the team began moving the dolphins toward deeper waters through an extremely shallow, muddy mangrove tunnel. The dolphins were released near the Charlotte Shores neighborhood by 11 a.m.
The dolphins were tagged with satellite-linked transmitters and the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program will monitor their post-release movements. I have spotted them!
Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters. As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call/text 239-994-2572. Welcome aboard!