CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — Two bottlenose dolphins have a new home at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Officials said 26-year-old Star and 15-year-old Squirt came from the Miami Seaquarium. They will join three resident bottlenose dolphins and six rough-toothed dolphins in the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex.
The dolphins were born at the Miami Seaquarium under human care and lack the necessary skills to survive in the wild, CMA said.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved a permit to transport the dolphins to CMA from the Seaquarium, which closed to the public this past October.
“This is a part of CMA’s plan to continue to enhance our dolphin social structure for the benefit of our rescued residents,” according to Joe Handy, CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium. “It’s important to understand that rescue takes many forms, and is not always exclusive to rescue directly from the ocean,” said Handy. “Our mission of rescue, rehabilitation, release and research remains steadfast.”…