A solitary female bottlenose dolphin that has been frequenting waters off Texas for some years has been taken into care and is currently in rehabilitation at the Texas State Aquarium after the animal’s health declined. The intervention was a last resort but partly due to the public becoming more interested in swimming with the dolphin, despite an educational programme being put in place discouraging people from feeding, swimming, or interacting with the dolphin. While some have heeded the warnings, others continued to directly interact and seek out the animal and like many solitary dolphins globally, the animal has become very habituated over the months, not only losing her wariness around swimmers but suffering serious injuries from also having lost her wariness around boats. Once assessments are done, veterinarians will determine the next steps and hopefully, get her back to the wild where she belongs, however, the public will have to play their part in ensuring her ongoing protection and welfare.
Whilst it is understandable that people want to get closer to dolphins when they appear close to shore, many are unaware of the consequences that swimming with solitary wild dolphins has on the individual animal. Marine Connection has been monitoring the phenomenon of solitary dolphins and whales for many years and has first-hand experience of what can happen in instances where the public does not take due care around these marine mammals or retain respect for their wild nature.
