swimming dolphin

On 13th April 2008 we found a Spinner Dolphin on our beach. It was found early in the morning about 6am. We were shocked to see it and also excited at the same time. All of us have never seen dolphin up close before. The dolphin beached itself and has many scratches on its dorsal fin, pectoral flippers, melon and at the tip of its rostrum (C).

A) Dorsal Fin: The dorsal fin is falcate (curved back) and located at the center of the back. It is made up of fibrous tissue. It may act to stabilize the dolphin as it swims but it is not a necessity - as some dolphin’s dorsal fins are damaged with some almost completly missing.

B) Melon: The fatty, rounded structure on the top of the head used to produce sounds for communication and echolocation.

C) Rostrum: The snout of the dolphin containing conical shaped teeth. These interlock to catch prey whole and suck it down whole, without chewing it.

D) Pectoral Flippers: The pectoral flippers are the dolphin’s forelimbs. They are very similar to our forearms and hands. The flippers are curved and pointed on the ends and have a primary function of helping the dolphin to steer.

E) Postanal Hump: The hump is found only on mature males.

At the time that we found it at the beach, one of the dive crew at our jetty was shouting and pointing at something in the water. Turns out it was a Tiger shark, probably it was chasing the dolphin or maybe it was attracted by the blood of the dolphin. It went away after a few minutes. Phew!I haven’t dived since this Tiger shark sighting L Anyway, we didn’t know what to do with the dolphin, tried to pull it into deeper water but it kept coming back and it refused to swim or do anything. We have no facilities to care for a dolphin but out of concern we took a tank and put it into the tank while we made calls for help and instruction on dolphin’s care.

I called Zarinah at UMS and she told me the survival chances of beached dolphins are very slim. Then we called a vet in Sepilok and were told the same thing. We were also told to keep the water in the dolphin tank deep enough for it to float as to avoid its body weight from crushing its lungs and internal organs. But at the same time we have to keep holding the dolphin up so that it can breathe.



After about 4 hours in the tank with the dolphin (I secretly named it Fifi, because we have a dog here named Fufu), Fifi seems to be feeling better. Where previously she was motionless, she was able to move and float for herself. We were worried that she might have internal injuries but she peed 4 times without blood in it so I assume there is no internal bleeding. We decided to put her back in the sea to see if she is ok and wants to swim away. The truth is the tank that we put her in was an old one with many holes. We had to put canvas and keep the sea water flowing in. We were really poorly equipped to keep her.



We gently carried her into the sea. At first she just swims around us in circles and sometimes she will brush up against us. She kept swimming & expanding the circle. I think she was testing her own self when she swims away and then came back to us. After about 30 minutes she decided to swims further and we escorted her in a small boat. When we reached deeper water she started playing with us, making spins, circling the boat and even racing with the boat. She seems to be feeling much better. She can swim really fast!

We waved goodbye for the last time to Fifi and head back to the island. I don’t know how it happened but I feel very attached to Fifi. Holding her in the tank for 4 hours (Fifi peed on me 4 times and surprisingly she farted a few times too) and praying for her well being made me fall in love with her. Dolphins are amazing creatures indeed. I never thought I would experience this. It feels really good to nurse it back.

Swimming with Fifi was an amazing event in my life and I will remember it forever.

xoxo

-salha-