Environment

Dolphins on a Chat Line?

by Karen Hatter | June 12, 2007 at 09:54 am

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Castaway, a rescued deaf dolphin, has given birth. She and her calf, affectionately called by some of the staff, Wilson, after the volleyball in Tom Hanks' movie, Castaway, are being kept at Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo, Florida.

Since the mother dolphin is deaf, it is said she speaks in a monotone, which is being compared to the way deaf humans vocalize when they speak. It is not known for sure but, it appears the baby dolphin is not deaf.

A 'dolphin chat line', using speakers and microphones, is being rigged at the conservancy and at Dolphin Plus, an educational and interactive facility also in Key Largo, to aid in helping the young dolphin develop its communication and survival skills.

www.miamiherald.com/884/story/136609.html

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pwalmsley

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:28 on June 12th, 2007

Karen Hatter, I like this story. Wow! What I good idea. Is there any evidence this has worked with dolphins (or any other animals) before?

Karen Hatter

at 10:53 on June 12th, 2007

Thank you, Pwalmsley! According to the original article, the mother dolphin is believed to be only the second deaf dolphin ever held in captivity. This particular process seems to be the first ever attempted, for dolphins anyway! As far as other animals, although I have seen and read many different ways rescuers and caregivers of many kinds of wildlife have developed creative means to aid animals, I'm not aware of this type of effort. Hopefully someone here at NowPublic may be able to enlighten us both!