Castaway, the Deaf Dolphin, Adapts to Dolphins Plus
Castaway, a deaf bottlenose dolphin who was recently moved from the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo to Dolphins Plus, a multi-dolphin facility in Key Largo, is reportedly doing well in her new environment. According to Dolphins Plus curator Art Cooper, Castaway has shown more interest in taking her meals and interacting with staff, and on Wednesday swam voluntarily to the platform where she receives her meals and medical attention for the first time.
“She voluntarily swims up to the platform that we lower about 3 feet into the water,” Cooper said. “That’s where we do the medical procedures with her, but she also likes to swim there to be rubbed down by staff.” Castaway, who is completely deaf and sees out of only one eye, stranded herself near Fort Pierce in November. She garnered national attention in June after giving birth to a calf, Wilson, who died five days after birth.
Federal fisheries authorities wanted Castaway moved out of the Marine Mammal Conservancy since they had determined she was no longer rehabilitating, and on July 25 was sent three miles south to Dolphins Plus, where she is housed in a saltwater pen with two other female dolphins. Dolphins Plus is a dolphin-encounter facility. Cooper said Dolphins Plus would continue to give positive reinforcement to Castaway as she adjusts to her new environment.
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