Recent News
Three Recipients: $100,000 Catlin Marine GrantThursday, April 24, 2014
The Catlin Marine Grant evolved from the reef-mapping work undertaken by the Catlin Seaview Survey, a series of worldwide scientific expeditions launched by Catlin in 2012 to document the composition and health of the world’s coral reefs.
Bermuda Aquarium releases Galapagos shark
Thursday, April 24, 2014
A 1.5m/5' Galapagos shark named Desmond has been released back into the wild by the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
‘Desmond’ the shark released back into ocean
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
A five-foot Galapagos shark named Desmond has been released back into the ocean by staff at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
Opinion: Ethical Question Of Dolphins & Captivity
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Recently there’s been a lot of discussion in Bermuda on the issue of keeping dolphins in captivity; this appears to have been the unintended result of Dolphin Quest announcing the births of two baby dolphins amongst their captive population.
5ft Shark “Desmond” Released From Aquarium
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
As we previously reported, on Good Friday staff at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo [BAMZ] — in conjunction with the research and camera crew of the upcoming television series Ocean Vet – released a five-foot Galapagos shark named Desmond back into the wild, requiring an intricate transportation process from start to finish.
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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Mark Prior
Published Aug. 14, 2013 at 8:00 am
Out to sea: The lone dolphin spotted at Somerset Long Bay
has now swum away from the area.
A dolphin feared stranded in Somerset Long Bay has left the area.
Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo principal curator Ian Walker said he, along with representatives from Dolphin Quest, the Fisheries Department and the Bermuda Police Service, followed the dolphin eastward until it was out of sight.
“We followed the dolphin at a distance and we lost sight of him eastward off King’s Point,” he said.
The team was called to Somerset Long Bay yesterday after members of the public reported seeing a dolphin within three feet of shore.
People were warned to stay away from the animal if they saw it.
US expert Trevor Spradlin told The Royal Gazette that the dolphin’s unusual behaviour may have been caused by the morbillivirus which caused 201 bottlenose dolphins to wash up dead along the Mid-Atlantic coast this year.
“It was first and foremost in my mind,” Dr Walker agreed. “We didn’t want this dolphin near any of our marine mammals because certain types of diseases can spread to other collections — we were prepared to keep it away from other animals.”
A decision was made not to catch the animal because it didn’t beach itself or display deteriorated behaviour, he said.
As a result, authorities weren’t able to determine why the dolphin wasn’t travelling in a pod, or whether it was infected with disease.
Because it wasn’t necessary to catch the dolphin, “we weren’t able to determine the age, weight, sex, or species of dolphin”, Dr Walker said.
“We think it was a common dolphin, but we don’t have a firm ID on it,” he added.
“We hope this dolphin, which appeared to be juvenile, has made it past the reef by now and hopefully be able to make a living for itself.”
Dr Walker said a pool would remain at Cambridge Beaches for the next two days in case the dolphin returns and needs proper assessment.