 DOLPHIN THAT SURVIVED SHARK ATTACK CHOKES EATING FISH Palm Beach Post -- Wednesday, June 13, 2001 By: William M. Hartnett, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer FORT PIERCE -- The Indian River Lagoon's dolphin population lost another member this weekend. Dolphin researcher Steve McCulloch lost an honorary member of his own family. C-6, the dolphin that narrowly survived a shark attack nine months ago, was found dead Tuesday morning in the Sebastian River, about 40 miles north of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Results from a necropsy are several weeks off, but it appears the 24-year-old dolphin had suffocated about two days before being found, killed by a large fish lodged in its throat. "It's an accidental but natural cause of death," said McCulloch, head of Harbor Branch's dolphin program, "something we have seen in other dolphins on rare occasions." To McCulloch, in particular, the dolphin's death was a shock. He was perhaps the most dedicated of a team of scientists and volunteers who nursed C-6 back to health after it was found near the Vero Beach Marina in August. For months he was near the animal almost every second and even spent his nights on a pool-side cot for a time. So close to the dolphin were those who cared for him that they replaced the designation he was given during a 1980 government study with a proper name: Philippe, in honor of Harbor Branch's partnership with the Philippe Cousteau Foundation. When Philippe was released back into the Indian River Lagoon in March, McCulloch and others on the oceanographic institution's campus celebrated like World Series champs. A temporary transmitter attached to Philippe's dorsal fin allowed them to track him for several weeks. In all, Philippe was sighted 13 times after his release, McCulloch said. He had even reunited with his lifelong dolphin buddy, C-7, and McCulloch said it's hoped Philippe managed to breed during his three months back in the wild. Though McCulloch said Philippe's death is "like losing a member of your family," the information gathered by studying him will help researchers better understand the Indian River Lagoon and its dolphins. "He continues to teach us," McCulloch said. "And he'll continue to provide answers to unanswered questions." Copyright (c) 2001, The Palm Beach Post |