Fears as Dave the dolphin sustains major injury

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Fears as Dave the dolphin sustains major injury

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The injury to Dave's tale. Picture by Terry Whittaker

The dolphin that lives off the Kent coast has had a significant part of its tail cut off, in what was almost certainly a collision with a boat propeller.

    The female dolphin, named Dave, has been living off the coast of Folkestone where it has become a local celebrity due to a willingness to interact with swimmers and boat-users, a behaviour that it has learnt this year.

   The serious injury to Dave's tail comes despite previous warnings from animal welfare and rescue groups that this increasingly friendly dolphin was at high risk of an accident and especially propeller strike.

  Experts question whether Dave will survive the injury and the risk of infection to the wound.

Veterinary opinion indicates that the next few days will be crucial and that there is high risk of infection. Even if the mammal survives, the tail will not grow back.

   Margaux Dodds, director of Marine Connection adds; "This is one of the worst injuries I have seen to a solitary dolphin and could prove fatal should she contract septicaemia.

   “For this reason we urge people, especially at this time, to respect her situation and keep their distance as she must be in more than some pain and discomfort and we are extremely concerned for her future welfare."

   Tony Woodley, national spokesman for British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said, "The images of this awful injury have been viewed by our leading veterinary specialist and he has expressed his concern that the animal could develop a severe infection and septicaemia.

“Volunteers from BDMLR are going to keep a very close watch on Dave's behaviour over the next few days to see if she deteriorates in condition."

POSTED: 15/10/2007 18:01:01

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