Evidence of Possible Dolphin Baby Boom to Follow Recent Hurricanes Irma, Maria

Both hurricanes, Irma and Maria, brought devastation, destruction, and absolute chaos. But one thing we wouldn’t expect it to bring? More dolphins!

Biologist Lance Miller came to the conclusion after Hurricane Katrina, in 2005. After conducting dolphin surveys in the Gulf of Mexico in 2007, his evidence suggested that dolphin reproduction may boom about two years after a severe storm.

A team of scientists believe this occurs after a large percentage of calves is killed off during the actual storm. Dolphins typically reproduce only every few years, spending the time in-between nursing. But when a calf dies, the mother can breed again the next season.

This means that next season we can possibly see more female dolphins breeding in the same year than usual; a baby boom!

According to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi, the other major factor is the hurricane's destruction of fishing boats. These boats usually compete with dolphins for fish, which makes it harder for dolphins to find food.

Thankfully, conservationists are not that concerned by bottlenose dolphin populations. Scientists believe the animal’s wide spread amount will keep the species alive.

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