Rough-Toothed Dolphins Rosie And Rudy Ready For Closeups With Visitors

CLEARWATER, FL — She's had a rough time of it after being found stranded and then diagnosed with hearing loss. But now, Rosie the rough-toothed dolphin, who was found around Valentine's Day, has a new love in her life to help her acclimate to her permanent home at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

The aquarium said Monday that Rosie and Rudy have successfully made the transition to Pool 2 at the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex at the aquarium and are ready for closeup encounters with visitors.

Rosie, a young dolphin estimated to be about 2 years old, was discovered stranded near Longboat Key in Sarasota. Stranding on a beach may cause mild stress to internal organs due to the weight of the animal out of water.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium and the Clearwater aquarium, Rosie was safely moved to the aquarium's Fred Howard Marine Mammal Stranding Station for medical care for an infection and the stress from being stranded.

Once recovered, she was moved to the Clearwater facility’s Rescue Deck in May, where she officially met Rudy. Over the past five months, the aquarium's animal care specialists have been working closely with Rosie to ensure she adapts to her new home and her companion.

"We are delighted to be able to introduce Rosie and Rudy to our guests," said Kelly Martin, vice president of zoological care at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. “We are extremely happy to have two rough-toothed dolphins together for their socialization needs."

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of only two facilities certified to provide care for this species of dolphin under the Southeast Stranding Network of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Stranding responses are conducted and closely monitored under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 112c Stranding Agreement between Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the NMFS Southeast Region.

Rough-toothed dolphins, also known as Steno bredanensis, are a small breed of dolphin found in deep warm, tropical waters around the world. About 600 rough-toothed dolphins are estimated to be in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

According to the aquarium care staff, they are a unique species of dolphin that have specific socialization needs. So aquarium staff closely monitored Rudy and Rosie's introduction to ensure they'd be compatible. Companions are essential for dolphins, providing a stimulating environment that promotes their natural behaviors.

Related:

• Rosie The Rough-Toothed Dolphin Moved To Home At Clearwater Aquarium
• Video: Stranded, Rudolph The Rough-Toothed Dolphin In Good Hands

The two rough-toothed dolphins proved to have a lot in common, which may have sped up their socialization.

Rudy, or Rudolph, now 6 years old, was rescued off Sanibel Island on Dec. 16, 2019, and was named after Rudolph after the reindeer.

Both Rosie and Rudy were determined to be non-releasable by NOAA after failing hearing tests. Because they are both deaf, they are not able to echolocate, which provides the ability to sense predators, as well as find food.

Nevertheless, they had no problem seeing one another. It wasn't love at first sight. After their initial meeting, they tentatively circled one another, slowly venturing closer and closer. The aquarium's animal care team worked with them for months before they felt the dolphins had adapted to one another and could be introduced to the public.

Visitors to CMA will have the opportunity to see Rosie and Rudy interacting and learn more about this unusual species of dolphin. Click here.