Marine Mammal Center Working to Rescue Stranded Dolphin That May be Dead [UPDATED]

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: A staff veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Center believes a stranded dolphin spotted in shallow waters near San Francisco International Airport Tuesday morning may be dead, center officials have said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the Risso's dolphin has not moved or changed its position throughout the day on the soft mud," says Dr. Cara Field said in a statement. "Since cetacean bodies are not designed to be on solid surfaces, it's unlikely that the cetacean is still alive."

The animal is currently in an area inaccessible by land or water because of low tide conditions, but crews are working to recover the animal or perform a field necropsy.

ORIGINAL POST 3:45 p.m.: A rescue team from the Marin County-based Marine Mammal Center is attempting to rescue a stranded dolphin that was spotted in shallow waters in the Bay near San Francisco International Airport Tuesday morning, center officials said.

The dolphin had been spotted as early as Saturday and was seen circling the area's shallow waters several times that day before becoming stranded about 400 meters from shore on mudflats this morning, according to center officials.

The animal, which has been identified as a Risso's dolphin, is currently in an area inaccessible by land or water because of low tide conditions.

Because the rescue team has not been able to make contact with the dolphin, they do not know its condition. The mammal center is working with the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine an appropriate response plan, according to the mammal center.

Risso's dolphins are an open water species and usually travel in pods, which are not known to frequent the San Francisco Bay.

Because the animal entered the Bay, presumably alone, mammal center officials believe it may be sick or perhaps just took a wrong turn.

Risso's dolphins can grow more than 12 feet long and weigh up to 1,100 pounds. Additionally, they prefer warm, temperate and tropical water offshore habitats, mammal center officials said.

Throughout its 41-year history, the Marine Mammal Center has responded to 10 incidents involving Risso's dolphins. This year alone, the center has already responded to 27 incidents involving cetaceans, a group of
marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.

— Bay City News Service