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Special Dolphins We Have Met

by Scarlet Colley - June, 1999

Dolphin Encounters

In our last article I featured a bottle nose dolphin named Natcho, her offspring Titan, and Baby. I hope some of you have been able to spot these special dolphins out on the bay and will have the opportunity to come to know them personally as I have.

This month I will introduce two unique dolphins. The first one’s name is Cookie. As you can see, Cookie’s dorsal fin is easy to recognize. Her other distinguishing feature is her tail, half of it is missing. Cookie never is seen bow riding. A common sight in the shipping channel, dolphins love to ride the water pushed by the shrimp boats and ships coming through the channel. They leap upside down, sideways, and even do head slaps for miles sometimes. But Cookie, with her handicap always remains on the sidelines. However, she has no trouble keeping up with her family. We often see her tending the dolphin nursery. No one is sure how her injuries occurred, perhaps she was caught in a net or cable. Her tail has bone exposed on the right side where the fluke was severed, but it is healed now.

Cookie's Dorsal Fin

Another special dolphin we have observed for two years is Jasmine. Her dorsal fin is also distinct. She can be seen now with a year old offspring at her side. Jasmine is an entertainer. Captain Colley and I watched her in Dolphin Cove a few months ago, throwing the biggest flounder around, I had ever seen. She tossed that foot wide flounder around as if to say, “Look what I have!”

When I saw Jasmine jumping for the photo, she had already jumped twice. I was so enthralled with her performance, I forgot completely about the camera until Captain Colley brought me back to reality. Usually one or two leaps is the limit when cameras are around, but Jasmine gave me one more for the photo opportunity.

Jasmine jumping

It is wonderful encounters such as this that makes my time out on the bay waters so special. Each day brings wonderful events to document. Our dolphins of South Padre Island are fascinating and unique. I have so many more dolphins to share with everyone: next month we will introduce “The Three Amigos”.

Captain Colley and Scarlet have been filming the Bottle nosed dolphins of South Padre Island for four years. They operate the Fins to Feathers Photo safaris at Sea Ranch Marina. The six passenger catamaran houseboat the “Laguna Skimmer” takes all interested parties on a three hour excursion to encounter and document dolphin activity. For appointments call 739-BIRD.

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