It is with a heavy heart that we inform our Folly community of a mother dolphin grieving the death of her calf.

The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network has received multiple reports of a mother dolphin carrying her deceased newborn. According to the organization, it is calving season for dolphins and unfortunately, there is a percentage of neonates that do not survive. There are many possible causes that this could have happened. First time mothers are more likely to lose their babies. Ocean contamination has also been linked to an increase in the mortality rate of newborn dolphins.

When a perinatal dolphin passes away, the mother will carry and push along their deceased calf anywhere from days to weeks. This is a very sorrowful time for this mother dolphin and part of the grieving process for her.

To allow this mother to properly mourn her loss, we ask our visitors to be mindful and keep a respectable distance from the dolphins. The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network asks visitors to not disturb the grieving process, but if they spot the pair, to report their location. The mother dolphin is likely not resting or eating during this time, and they want to continue to monitor her health.

To report a sighting, please call the SC Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-922-5431. Remember to not approach or interact with the mother or calf. We understand that many people may wish to help, but authorization is required to interact with the dolphins.

We appreciate all of the love and support that this news has already received. It is our job as beach lovers to respect and support the wildlife in the best way possible. Please spread the news by sharing our blog to other beachgoers in order to properly inform them of the situation. We wish to respect the mourning mother dolphin during this delicate situation.