Saturday, August 8, 2015

Dolphin Exploring Unfamiliar Habitat

A dolphin has recently found its way into the South River located in Old Bridge New Jersey. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center were focused on finding ways to usher the mammal back towards the deeper waters in order for it to make its way back to the ocean. However, the dolphin choose to stay in the river for another day, which forced the Raritan Riverkeeper group to ascend into the water to help lead it back towards the ocean. The mammal chose to stay in the new ecosystem it had ventured into despite the efforts.

This river being fresh water is not the proper location for the dolphin to be settling. The mammal was not eating and was a senior, making it extremely deteriorating towards its health. According to Robert Schoelkopf the director of MMSC the river was not a safe area for technicians to advance in to with its slopping sides and deep center. The experts are doing all they can to direct the dolphin back to the open oceans and save its life.

As an intern at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center I have had a close relation to this happening. It is very uncommon for dolphins to enter fresh water areas and stay for long, which suggests it might have been looking for food because of the decreasing amounts of food sources in the ocean due to over fishing. If dolphins are not able to get necessary nutrients in the ocean maybe they are going to more frequently start invading other bodies of water, which could result in evolution for these mammals.

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