Miami Vegan Blog

KEY LARGO, Fla. - A stranded deaf Atlantic bottlenose dolphin delivered her calf Monday at a marine mammal rehabilitation center in the Florida Keys. The unnamed calf is approximately 42 inches long and weighs about 30 pounds, according to officials at the Marine Mammal Conservancy.

"The calf looks great. It's swimming real well and breathing normally," said MMC president Robert Lingenfelser

The calf's mother, Castaway, has been vocalizing to the calf and the baby has answered back, said Lingenfelser.

But Lingenfelser said he is certain that Castaway cannot process the calf's return sounds.

"Castaway's vocalizations are not normal," Lingenfelser said. "She speaks in a monotone, similar to the way that people who cannot hear speak."

Because Castaway can't hear, MMC officials installed a dolphin "chat line" of sorts, electronically connecting Castaway's habitat with a lagoon at Dolphins Plus, a research and interactive educational facility a few miles away. Underwater speakers and microphones were installed at both locations and connected via phone lines donated by AT&T Florida.

Officials hope the calf will develop communications' skills by speaking to dolphins at Dolphins Plus when the system is fully turned on soon.

Labels: animals, blog, deaf dolphin, key largo, south florida