Recent News
Dolphin causes a stir at Somerset Long BayTuesday, August 13, 2013
A dolphin that was spotted yesterday at Somerset Long Bay may have been stranded. US marine mammal biologist Trevor Spradlin said the situation was similar to what he’s seen in the US, where dolphins have recently been found along the coast of Virginia up to New York.
Venti Anni takes off in Tour de Turtles race
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Crowds gathered at Clearwater Beach this morning when Venti Anni, a juvenile green sea turtle, was released as a part of the Tour de Turtles Race on the Rock.
Officials respond, dolphin very close to shore
Monday, August 12, 2013
A lone dolphin was spotted very close to shore in the West End today [Aug 12], and the Marine Police were called to the scene after receiving reports of what appeared to be a distressed marine mammal at Somerset Long Bay.
Longtail chicks might not be abandoned, but beware just in case
Friday, August 09, 2013
The Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) is calling for the public to look out for stranded Longtail chicks as the birds prepare for their first flights.
Going to be on the water this Cup Match? Spare a moment of thought for the Island's turtles
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Boating season is underway and local conservationists are urging the public to think green this Cup Match weekend — green sea turtles, that is.
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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.