True, this fish had been in captivity and so had no shortage of food to fuel that growth. “It would be unrealistic to expect such growth to be common among wild fish,” Hammond says. “Only a few other bull dolphin in the RSMAS culture study have exhibited somewhat similar growth.” He also acknowledges that female dolphin in the program have shown a less-spectacular growth rate.

But, “It does demonstrate the potential growth the species has,” and, says Hammond, should be a strong reminder that releasing small dolphin “can earn dividends in short order in the form of bigger fish.”