Fraggle Mourns 2-Week-Old Calf in Rare Estuary Scene as Researchers Warn of Low Survival
Updated
Updated · KFOX El Paso · Aug 4
Fraggle Mourns 2-Week-Old Calf in Rare Estuary Scene as Researchers Warn of Low Survival
3 articles · Updated · KFOX El Paso · Aug 4
Summary
Researchers in Western Australia's Leschenault Estuary saw bottlenose dolphin Fraggle carrying her dead calf, born just two weeks earlier, in a rare scene for the estuary's small resident population.
The calf had recently shown a high respiratory rate, and researchers had already feared a winter birth would be hard to survive in colder conditions.
Fraggle has now lost her last four calves, while marine experts said mothers can carry dead calves for several days before letting go to resume feeding and self-care.
Other dolphins also gathered around Fraggle — including some thought to have entered from the ocean — underscoring the strong social bonds researchers want highlighted as newborns face low survival rates there.