Stranded dolphin swims free with clean bill of health

The “dolphin in distress” that appeared in last week’s edition of the Longboat Observer Cop’s Corner swam away with a clean bill of health. 

According to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call on March 29 about the dolphin stranded on Long Bar and forwarded the call to Mote’s Strandings Investigation Program. 

Longboat Key Police marine patrol assisted in transporting a team of Mote crew members to the scene and arrived around 11:55 a.m. 

The female dolphin was alert while the Mote team conducted an assessment, which showed the dolphin was breathing fine and had a healthy heartbeat. Mote crew consulted with colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Clearwater Marine Aquarium and concluded the dolphin was young and tidally stranded. 

She was released around 12:30 p.m. Staff later saw her swimming and feeding or playing.