Cirrus lauded for active duty

She is one of the most familiar faces up in Dockyard.

But few who see Cirrus the dolphin performing all sorts of incredible tricks know that she once served in the US military.

The exact nature of her work remains a closely guarded secret.

But the matriarch of the Bermuda Dolphin Quest family was adopted out of the US Navy in 1996.

Michelle Campbell, vice president of animals for Dolphin Quest, told the Bermuda Sun: “Cirrus came to us in October 1996 from the US Navy base in San Diego.

“She was first flown to Florida and then brought across to Bermuda.

“She was in our original core group of dolphins and was the only one to come from a military background.

“We don’t know what exactly her role was with the Navy but dolphins have been used for all kinds of marine research work.

“We know she was caught off the coast of Florida in 1978 and veterinary estimates suggest she was born in June 1974.

“What we have also come to learn is that she is an absolute gem.”

The US Navy Marine Mammal Programme is based in San Diego and studies the military use of dolphins and seals.

It trains animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbour protection and equipment recovery. 

NMMP animal teams have also been deployed in combat zones in the past.

Ms Campbell said that Cirrus provides a sense of peace and tranquility to the rest of the Dolphins at Dolphin Quest in Bermuda. 

She added: “Cirrus is our oldest dolphin in Bermuda.

“We believe she is 40 years old now.

“She continues to serve as the matriarch. She is a very stable and solid leader.

“She is really a role model for the rest of the dolphins and is very secure in her environment.

“She provides the rest of the
animals with a sense of security, and she is a fantastic mother.

“And in the past she has stepped in at times of need with other dolphins’ calves and shown first timer mothers the way.”

Since coming to Bermuda, Cirrus has had three calves — Nimbus, Lilly and Luna.

Nimbus is now at the Hawaii Dolphin Quest, while Lilly and Luna are at the Georgia Aquarium.

Ms Campbell added: “A nice bridge to Cirrus being a former Navy dolphin is the continued work under the helm of research that she continues to contribute to since joining our
Dolphin Quest family.

“To date, globally, Dolphin Quest has proudly contributed well over $3m in funding, resources and field support to vital University level marine research projects around the globe and Cirrus has been an active part in this.

“The knowledge gained from these studies is helping our marine mammal community find solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges dolphins and our oceans are facing including overpopulation, over fishing, habitat degradation, pollution and marine debris.

“As a company we are so fortunate to share with our guests the wonderful love and relationship we have with our animals and Cirrus is one of our biggest ambassadors in this regard.”