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Curiosity, Then Concern for a Dolphin in Difficulty Curiosity, Then Concern for a Dolphin in Difficulty
(about 1 hour later)
A dolphin found its way into the headwaters of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn on Friday, apparently trapped where nature has long struggled to survive.A dolphin found its way into the headwaters of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn on Friday, apparently trapped where nature has long struggled to survive.
As crowds of onlookers braved the bitter cold to catch a glimpse from the Union Street bridge, curiosity turned to concern as the dolphin appeared to be having difficulty swimming in the narrow 1.8-mile-long waterway.As crowds of onlookers braved the bitter cold to catch a glimpse from the Union Street bridge, curiosity turned to concern as the dolphin appeared to be having difficulty swimming in the narrow 1.8-mile-long waterway.
An expert from a marine animal rescue organization said he had never seen a dolphin so far up the canal, away from where it empties into New York Harbor.An expert from a marine animal rescue organization said he had never seen a dolphin so far up the canal, away from where it empties into New York Harbor.
In the afternoon, Julika Wocial, a marine biologist from the rescue group, the Riverhead Foundation, said it was worrisome that the dolphin was by itself, “because they are very social animals; they usually travel in pods.” She said it was an adult common dolphin, 6 to 10 feet long and about 200 pounds.In the afternoon, Julika Wocial, a marine biologist from the rescue group, the Riverhead Foundation, said it was worrisome that the dolphin was by itself, “because they are very social animals; they usually travel in pods.” She said it was an adult common dolphin, 6 to 10 feet long and about 200 pounds.
After struggling for hours in the murky water, the dolphin died, Ms. Wocial said about 6 p.m. As for a cause of death, she added, “I have absolutely no idea at this point.” The dolphin struggled all day in the murky water, but to no avail. It died.
As for a cause, Ms. Wocial said, “I have absolutely no idea at this point.”
The Riverhead Foundation generally performs necropsies on marine mammals in such circumstances, said Valentina Sherlock, a staff member. But it was not immediately clear when that might happen in this case.The Riverhead Foundation generally performs necropsies on marine mammals in such circumstances, said Valentina Sherlock, a staff member. But it was not immediately clear when that might happen in this case.
About 2:30 p.m., when the canal was at low tide, Ms. Wocial said that any rescue operation, if one was to be undertaken, would most likely not happen until high tide, about 7 p.m., when rescuers would see if the animal could free itself.
“We don’t know what this animal is going to do if any action is undertaken,” she said.
The dolphin was first spotted about 9:30 a.m. at the mouth of the canal, Ms. Wocial said. Experts monitored its swimming and breathing patterns, hoping to understand what, if anything, might be ailing it.The dolphin was first spotted about 9:30 a.m. at the mouth of the canal, Ms. Wocial said. Experts monitored its swimming and breathing patterns, hoping to understand what, if anything, might be ailing it.
Sasha Chavchavadze, founder of Proteus Gowanus, an arts center near the bridge, said she watched as the dolphin appeared to get caught behind one of the pipes that runs through the canal. Sasha Chavchavadze, founder of Proteus Gowanus, an arts center near the bridge, said she watched as the dolphin appeared to get caught behind one of the pipes that run through the canal.
“I thought it was a goner because it turned upside down,” Ms. Chavchavadze said. “But the dolphin extracted itself and started swimming again.”“I thought it was a goner because it turned upside down,” Ms. Chavchavadze said. “But the dolphin extracted itself and started swimming again.”
The Gowanus has long been considered the most inhospitable of waterways. For years, it was the dumping ground for industrial waste, a receptacle for sewage spill-off and generally a symbol for urban decay. About 2:30 p.m., when the canal was at low tide, Ms. Wocial said that any rescue operation, if one was to be undertaken, would most likely not be conducted until high tide, about 7 p.m., when rescuers would see if the animal could free itself.
In 2007, when a 12-foot Minke whale appeared, lively swimming around near the canal’s mouth, it quickly earned a seemingly fitting nickname: Sludgie. “We don’t know what this animal is going to do if any action is undertaken,” she said.
But about 6 p.m., Ms. Wocial announced that the dolphin was dead.
The Gowanus has long been considered the most inhospitable of waterways. For years, it was a dumping ground for industrial waste, a receptacle for sewage spill-off and generally a symbol for urban decay.
In 2007, when a 12-foot Minke whale appeared near the canal’s mouth, frolicking in the water, it quickly earned a seemingly fitting nickname: Sludgie.
Sludgie the whale swam near the canal for two days even as people worked to rescue it. But the attempts failed and Sludgie died.Sludgie the whale swam near the canal for two days even as people worked to rescue it. But the attempts failed and Sludgie died.
Robert DiGiovanni Jr., executive director and senior biologist at the Riverhead Foundation, said that in more than two decades of working in the field he could not recall a dolphin swimming so deep into the canal.Robert DiGiovanni Jr., executive director and senior biologist at the Riverhead Foundation, said that in more than two decades of working in the field he could not recall a dolphin swimming so deep into the canal.
It is not uncommon for large marine animals like dolphins and whales to swim right up to the openings of New York’s waterways, swept in during high tide and out again with the next high tide. Most of the time, the animals come and go without incident.It is not uncommon for large marine animals like dolphins and whales to swim right up to the openings of New York’s waterways, swept in during high tide and out again with the next high tide. Most of the time, the animals come and go without incident.
That was the hope, he said Friday afternoon, for the dolphin there then. Any rescue that involves human intervention, he said, has inherent risks.That was the hope, he said Friday afternoon, for the dolphin there then. Any rescue that involves human intervention, he said, has inherent risks.
“It is best, if possible, to leave it in its own environment,” he said.“It is best, if possible, to leave it in its own environment,” he said.
Because dolphins are a protected species, any rescue attempt would have required approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service.Because dolphins are a protected species, any rescue attempt would have required approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
As Friday afternoon wore on, the dolphin’s struggle to survive became more apparent. It flailed in the water, and nervous spectators watched and waited for it to take each breath, poking its head above water, and demonstrating that it was still alive.As Friday afternoon wore on, the dolphin’s struggle to survive became more apparent. It flailed in the water, and nervous spectators watched and waited for it to take each breath, poking its head above water, and demonstrating that it was still alive.
Rebecca Rogers-Hawson, a volunteer coordinator with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, joined other spectators on the Union Street bridge.Rebecca Rogers-Hawson, a volunteer coordinator with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, joined other spectators on the Union Street bridge.
When Ms. Rogers-Hawson arrived around 1 p.m., the dolphin was swimming just beneath her and she spotted blood coming from its dorsal fin.When Ms. Rogers-Hawson arrived around 1 p.m., the dolphin was swimming just beneath her and she spotted blood coming from its dorsal fin.
“You could see a stream of red in the wake of its trail,” she said. “You could see a stream of red in the wake,” she said.
The dolphin appeared to get stuck in some rope near the bridge, she said, freed itself and then swam a bit more before getting stuck again near the edge of the canal.The dolphin appeared to get stuck in some rope near the bridge, she said, freed itself and then swam a bit more before getting stuck again near the edge of the canal.
“I feel like I cannot leave now,” she said. “I want to know what is going to happen.”“I feel like I cannot leave now,” she said. “I want to know what is going to happen.”
And those who had followed the dolphin’s struggle expressed disappointment in the outcome.
“The deck is always stacked against you,” Mr. DiGiovanni said. “It’s sad when it doesn’t come out like you hope.”

Andy Newman, Ravi Somaiya and Tim Stelloh contributed reporting.

Andy Newman, Ravi Somaiya and Tim Stelloh contributed reporting.