The Marine Connection is asking Sea World on the Gold Coast of Australia, to return the friendly bottlenose dolphin they are currently housing into the wild. The singular dolphin, nicknamed Cliffy, is between 3 and 5 years of age and was regularly sighted around the Port of Brisbane in Queensland.
Cliffy was taken to Seaworld after being found with fishing lines wrapped around his tail fluke, and after a six week recuperation period was released back into the ocean. Upon returning to the wild, fishermen were reported to be feeding Cliffy as he struggled to come to terms with adapting to his previous life . Sea World and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) authorised the re-capture of Cliffy, though the Marine Connection wildlife charity would like to know what other options were considered.
Many people living in the area do not want Cliffy to stay in captivity and feel he should be released in the wild where he has survived in his natural habitat for his entire life. The Marine Connection would like to see Cliffy released and measures put into place so the public will not to feed him as this can endanger the dolphin further and lead to human dependency.
