UPDATED: Young Dolphin Rescued At New Castle Dies

UPDATED – 7/6/21 – The MERR Institute responded to a stranded bottlenose dolphin calf on the 4th of July. This baby dolphin was a good distance from its typical range, stranding up in the City of New Castle along the Delaware River. The combined elements of distance and holiday traffic made a speedy response challenging for the MERR response team based down in Lewes, but luckily the Goodwill Fire Company of New Castle and Delaware State Parks, along with some MERR volunteers from New Castle County, were able to assist in the interim. The fire department heroically retrieved the dolphin from the Delaware River where it was washing into the treacherous rocks. From there, MERR was able to guide the firefighters and state park personnel to administer basic first aid, keeping the animal cool with wet towels to preserve its Skin.

This little male dolphin was believed to be about 2-3 months old, so would have still been dependent on its mother for survival. There were no signs of other dolphins in the river, which suggested the calf became separated from its mother, perhaps in a more typical location further south. In a disoriented state, the dolphin may have continued swimming north in search of its mother. The baby dolphin would have been deprived of nourishment and hydration for an unknown period of time, and would have been at risk without the protection of its mother. The calf would have continued to grow weaker, until it finally became unable to swim on its own or keep its head above the water to breathe, and ultimately washed into the rocks along Battery Park.

Dependent calves cannot survive without their mothers, so the prospects for this dolphin were dim. MERR assessed the animal and provided life support, but despite the valiant rescue efforts and hopes for survival, the dolphin was too debilitated to recover and survive. We thank the kind veterinary staff at Savannah Animal Hospital in Lewes for their assistance with this animal. MERR is very grateful to all who assisted with the rescue of this baby dolphin, which would otherwise have suffered greatly as he continued to slowly starve to death, lost and alone at sea without his mother to protect him.

MERR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, providing rescue and response to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles wherever they might strand in the state of Delaware. To report living and deceased marine mammals or sea turtles 24 hours a day, please contact the stranding hotline at 302-228-5029.

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A juvenile dolphin was discovered Sunday well up the Delaware River at Battery Park in New Castle.

New Castle City Police and members of the Good Will Fire Company received word about the discovery, and the Department of Natural Resources also responded. The area was blocked off as the dolphin was being treated and prepared for transport.

The dolphin will be cared for at the Marine Education and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes.