Without human intervention, this tiny dolphin would have been swallowed by the sea. Fortunately, humans rescued the baby dolphin, which had been separated from its mother. Dolphins are mammals, and normally, baby dolphins stay with their mothers for at least 18 months. The earliest weaning period for dolphins observed by humans is four months old.
This baby dolphin, found by humans, had not yet been weaned and still had part of its umbilical cord attached. It wandered into shallow water, weakened from a lack of food and unable to swim away. When humans saw it, the baby dolphin was struggling in the seawater.
Feeding the Baby Dolphin
Humans immediately prioritized feeding the baby dolphin. As mammals, dolphins need to drink milk just like humans, but they require it more frequently. Baby dolphins need milk every 15 to 20 minutes; otherwise, they become hungry and weak. To ensure the dolphin’s survival, human rescuers patiently fed it from bottles, providing milk every 20 minutes.
Scientists also participated in the rescue. After testing the baby dolphin, they determined it was a four-month-old. A dedicated caretaker was assigned to feed the baby dolphin daily. The dolphin, recognizing its new routine, stayed in the shallow water and swam over to eat whenever humans approached.
Teaching the Dolphin to Swim
In addition to feeding, humans had to help the dolphin learn to swim. Baby dolphins typically rely on their mothers to adapt to the sea. Human rescuers gently held the baby dolphin to help it gain balance, as young dolphins generally cannot master swimming smoothly on their own. Scientists conducted regular checks to ensure the dolphin’s progress without its mother.
Progress and Independence
About a month later, the young dolphin, now over five months old, could eat fish. Initially, humans fed it small pieces of fish, similar to feeding practices in oceanariums. Gradually, they introduced small whole fish. This careful nurturing helped the dolphin transition from milk to solid food, mimicking the natural process as closely as possible.
Through persistent efforts and care, the baby dolphin adapted well to its new environment, fulfilling human expectations and showcasing the resilience and intelligence of these remarkable creatures.
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