One of the two bottlenose dolphins that entered the Ria Formosa last Saturday, November 6, disappeared, but another is still to be seen in the Praia de Faro. Attempts to return it to the sea have been unsuccessful, but the animal remains healthy and will even be able to stand for “days, weeks or months” in the Ria.
Élio Vicente, director of Porto d”Abrigo at Zoomarine, a rehabilitation center, has been following this situation closely.
Ao Sul Informação, explains that, as for the missing bottlenose dolphin, it is not known whether "it will have returned to the sea or died".
The "most likely", even so, is that it has "returned to its habitat".
In Ria Formosa, there is still one. In recent days, attempts have been made to drive this bottlenose dolphin to the sea, but without success.
One of them took place this Friday, November 12th, and brought together members of the Maritime Police, ICNF, the Zoomarine Relief Team, and the Algarve Animal Disposal Network.
«The big problem has been to pass under the Praia bridge, something that the dolphin has not done», explains marine biologist Élio Vicente.
Despite the strangeness, the entry into the Ria Formosa of this type of mammal "is not unprecedented, nor is it surprising", he adds.
“What led these two animals to enter this area we still don't know: it could have been a mistake, they could have come looking for food, they could have fled from a predator. It's all hypotheses», he explains.
What is certain is that, "if the law is complied with", the bottlenose dolphin that is still in Praia de Faro it can last for “days, weeks or months” in the Ria Formosa.
“The problem could be the human presence, of the boats, which can affect the animal's well-being. For now, the animal is healthy and the fact that it was afraid of the Maritime Police boats shows how it remains alert and alert to dangers», concludes Élio Vicente.
Photos: Nuno Pires Veloso
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