The nomination "Responsible for those...": The specialists of the Delphi Dolphin Rescue Center are now preparing the bottlenose dolphin for release into the sea.
The story, which was anxiously watched by all residents of the surrounding villages of the Beisug River, took place in September. It was in Kuban at the beginning of the school year," the Vesti journalists said. A bottlenose dolphin entered the Beisug River from the Sea of Azov after a fish. But when the river became shallow, the outlet to the sea for the marine mammal was closed, and the water in the river began to become fresher. But it's not safe for dolphins, like any other marine life.
Therefore, on September 7, Rosprirodnadzor issued permission to the specialists of the Delphi center to literally evacuate the handsome red book from the river. But the veterinarians really hoped that he would find a way out to sea on his own when the water level in the river returned to normal. Unfortunately, the miracle did not happen. And after almost 10 days, the veterinarians began a rescue operation, for which they had to completely close part of the river.
According to experts, the bottlenose dolphin did not immediately allow itself to be saved. The first attempt to drive a dolphin from the depths of the river into shallow water into a specially equipped square of fishing nets failed. After that, the volunteers began to reduce the radius of the animal's water area so that it had less and less space in the water, and carefully lured it into shallow water to conduct a thorough medical examination. Dirty and fresh water for the dolphin became more destructive every day. Moreover, during his search for fish, he managed to get tangled in the fishing line and wound his skin with hooks.
"The dolphin was under stress. But this can lead to a sharp deterioration in health, up to a fatal outcome. Therefore, we must carry out such veterinary manipulations that will help rather than harm the animal," said Tatiana Denisenko, scientific director of the Delphi National Research Center.
The bottlenose dolphin was evacuated to shore in an improvised cot – a large inflatable mattress. Due to wounds on the skin and water, where there are many pathogens, inflammation began. Therefore, it was impossible to immediately release the animal into the open sea.
"We need to stay with him, rehabilitate him, provide further assistance and support. If we see that he is stable, that stress has not affected him, then we will take the dolphin to the Black Sea in Anapa," says Tatiana Beley, director of the Delphi Center.
The Scientific and Ecological Dolphin Rescue Center "Delpha" has been operating in Krasnodar Krai for more than eight years. We started with the rescue of dolphins, which the locals caught for resale to the dolphinarium, but kept in terrible conditions. So gradually, veterinarians and volunteers, passionate about one idea, created a large center where marine mammals are rescued.
Professional zoologists, candidates of biological sciences and caring volunteers work here. They specialize not only in helping injured dolphins from various injuries or fishing nets, but also in rehabilitating and releasing dolphins into their native habitat after living in captivity.
Of course, the Delphi center could not get past the environmental disaster that occurred in the Black Sea. After the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait, many marine lives were on the verge of survival.
"From the moment of the ecological disaster to April 2025, we recorded the death of 336 cetaceans. We were also informed about six live dolphins - one was saved, the rest died. That is why we are building an emergency hospital, an indoor swimming pool with an area of 60 square meters, equipped with an efficient and safe water treatment system, ready to receive sick or injured cetaceans for treatment. We are also equipping the hospital's laboratory with medical devices for their complete diagnosis," the Delphi center said.
The dolphin hospital will be located in Anapa on the Black Sea coast. The Delphi Center is convinced that they will be able to provide full-fledged assistance to marine mammals there, which will not only increase the chances of saving specific individuals, but will generally help preserve the population of Black Sea cetaceans.
Photos of "Vesti" and the National Center "Delphi".