On October 18th of this year, a 7 day old baby river dolphin washed up on the shores of Uruguay’s Punta Colorada beach. The baby dolphin is a female and is so young that the umbilical cord was still attached to her. How she became separated from her mother is unknown but the fact that the cord was still attached most likely means something happened to her mother as they usually remove it at birth. The baby was near death at the time she was found.
At this time it is unknown whether she will survive because the prognosis is usually poor for these baby dolphins that are separated from their mothers. She is currently in stable but weak condition though and is with the rescue organization, SOS Rescate de Fauna Marina rehabilitation center in Punta Colorada. The plan is to rehabilitate her if she survives at the center and then release her back into the wild. In order to rehabilitate her she must stay with the rescue organization for about 2 years and then she can be set free.
The baby dolphin is what is known as a La Plata river dolphin. They are found in the coastal Atlantic waters of South America and are able to live in both the ocean and saltwater estuaries. This species is listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The La Plata is constantly under threat from incidental capture from fishing gear, especially gill nets. It is estimated that 2000-4000 La Plata dolphins die each year from overfishing, damming, and sub-aquatic sonar pollution.
The hope is that this baby will survive and be able to join others like herself someday. Currently she is unnamed. If she does survive, the rescue organization has promised to provide updates on her progress. Our hopes and prayers are with this little baby dolphin.
At this time it is unknown whether she will survive because the prognosis is usually poor for these baby dolphins that are separated from their mothers. She is currently in stable but weak condition though and is with the rescue organization, SOS Rescate de Fauna Marina rehabilitation center in Punta Colorada. The plan is to rehabilitate her if she survives at the center and then release her back into the wild. In order to rehabilitate her she must stay with the rescue organization for about 2 years and then she can be set free.
The baby dolphin is what is known as a La Plata river dolphin. They are found in the coastal Atlantic waters of South America and are able to live in both the ocean and saltwater estuaries. This species is listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The La Plata is constantly under threat from incidental capture from fishing gear, especially gill nets. It is estimated that 2000-4000 La Plata dolphins die each year from overfishing, damming, and sub-aquatic sonar pollution.
The hope is that this baby will survive and be able to join others like herself someday. Currently she is unnamed. If she does survive, the rescue organization has promised to provide updates on her progress. Our hopes and prayers are with this little baby dolphin.
I hope she lives to adulthood, and can find other dolphines in the wild to swim with.
I pray that this beautiful little creature survives.