| Q |
Can you give us some background information
on C-6? |
| A |
Our records indicate that in 1980, two male bottlenose dolphins
- C-6 and his companion, C-7 - were first captured and branded for
the purpose of dolphin studies. C-6 and C-7 were estimated to be four
and five years old respectively. In 1997, during a long term photographic
study of Indian River Lagoon dolphins, C-6 and C-7 were identified
and amazingly they were still together after 17 years. The pairing
is the longest standing male dolphin coalition ever documented in
the Indian River Lagoon. You can imagine our disappointment when C-6
was spotted alone, for the first time ever. Subsequent sightings of
C-6 swimming alone lead us to believe that something had happened
to his longtime friend C-7. Instead, it was C-6 found lying on his
side in the Indian River Lagoon at a Vero Beach boat ramp, where he
lay bleeding to death. |
| Q |
When did you first learn about C-6's attack?
|
| A: |
It was August 31, 2001 around 7:00 a.m., when I got a call from
Indian River County Fire Rescue telling me that there was an injured
dolphin lying on a boat ramp at MacWilliams Park. I was told that
the dolphin looked like it had been hit by a boat. When I arrived
with the dolphin ambulance at 7:30, he was gone. Unfortunately, a
well-intentioned boater spooked him and he slowly swam off. |
| Q |
How did you end up rescuing him? |
| A: |
With the help of Indian River Shores Public Safety Department and
several other local marine enforcement units, we herded him until
he was caught - it took us almost twelve hours. |
| Q |
Why do you think C-6 was attacked by sharks? |
| A: |
There are three different theories on the attack.
- C-6 was immune compromised and near death. Sharks, being apex
predators (top of the food chain), were just doing their job,
cleaning up the weak.
- The bites C-6 received, were defensive bites from the sharks,
meaning the sharks bit and let go instead of biting and ripping
out flesh. The motive behind this is that C-6, being a dominant
male, was defending his pod. It was quite possible that there
was young present and C-6 felt that the sharks were threatening.
- C-6 was resting and caught unaware in a vulnerable position(he
is predispositioned to lay on his side).
|
| Q |
C-6 was attacked by three bull sharks.
What was the elapsed time between each attack? |
| A: |
The whole thing probably took place in less than a few minutes.
He may have been trailing blood and was attacked by subsequent sharks,
but managed to get away. |
| Q |
What is your personal opinion on why C-6
was attacked? |
| A: |
I don't really think he was immune system was compromised. He is
a 450 lb dolphin and was attacked 4 - 6 days prior to us recovering
him. In all probability, he would not have survived that many days
with such extensive injuries if he was sick to begin with. I think
he was either defending his pod or caught unaware. We'll never know
for sure the reason for his attack. |
| Q |
Can you give us some insight about the
old wives tale that if you see a dolphin, no sharks are around? |
| A: |
If you see dolphins, there is a high probability that sharks are
present. Dolphins school bait fish, feed, and leave a mess behind.
They also have young, old, weak, injured, dolphins that fall behind,
wander off, don't pay attention, and pups being born. It is not unreasonable
to assume that sharks are present as secondary feeders. |
| Q |
What can you tell us about dolphins saving
people? |
| A: |
Stories about dolphins saving people have evolved since before Christ.
There are numerous stories, accounts and anecdotal information of
this happening. There is also strong photographic documentation that
suggests dolphins have assisted people in distress while swimming
in the ocean. I personally can attest to this. |
| Q |
What is the status of Philippe now? |
| A: |
Philippe was released back into the Indian River Lagoon on March
5, 2001. He was fitted with a VHF transmitter that will enable researchers
to track his movements. The transmitter was attached to the trailing
edge of the dorsal fin prior to release. Over the six months of
recovery, Philippe gained a total of 130 pounds, increasing from
a post attack weight of 405 pounds to a release weight of 535 pounds.
By the time he was released, Philippe was eating between 18 and
20 pounds of live, fresh fish daily. Examinations of his teeth put
Philippe's age at 24 years. They can live between 30-35 years of
age in the wild.
As long as Philippe is alive and resident within the Indian River
Lagoon, he and the other dolphins that make the estuary their home
will continue to provide valuable insights into the world they -
and we - live in.
|
|
Dolphin C-6 ("Philippe") was found dead Tuesday, June
12, 2001, in the Sebastian River about 40 miles north of Harbor
Branch. "Philippe" apparently died of natural causes.
A preliminary examination found the remains of a large fish stuck
in the dolphin's airway and it appears he died of asphyxiation.
|
| For more information
about Philippe, please visit http://www.hboi.edu/news/features/c-6.html |
Phillipe
was attacked in the Indian River Lagoon approximately 4 to 6 days
prior to the rescue recovery.