01/15/2026
Yesterday evening was the first official attempt to begin disentanglement efforts on the entangled dolphin. Seeing this process firsthand really opened my eyes to just how much planning, coordination, and patience goes into these operations. The initial approach is being done remotely, using specialized poles with custom attachments designed to safely remove debris.
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program team was on board specifically to work the pole systems, which is what they specialize in and do throughout the state. A marine mammal veterinarian from the University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue was also present, along with stranding members, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescue team.Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been monitoring this dolphin and working to understand his movement patterns, which have been extremely difficult to pinpoint during the daytime.
Last night alone, we encountered 30+ dolphins, but none were the individual we were looking for. It turned into a long, cold night on the Gulf, but the effort never stopped. Once this stretch of bad weather moves through over the next few days, another attempt will be made.
