Dolphins Taesan and Boksoon Rejoice with their Friends

Jeju, July 16 (Korea Bizwire) – After ten days, two Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins that were released in their natural habitat, Taesan (male, 20) and Boksoon (female, 17), were spotted in a herd of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins.

According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Whale lab, Taesan and Boksoon were seen with 40 other wild dolphins near Jongdal port, Gujwa-eup, in Jeju city, at noon on July 15. Three dolphins that were released 2 years ago, Jaedol, Chunsam, and Sampal, were also spotted in the herd, showing that all of the dolphins that were rescued from illegal poaching 6 years ago are happily back at home.

Taesan and Boksoon were illegally captured near Jeju Island in 2009, and were sold to a dolphin show company in Jeju. They were freed at last when the Supreme Court ordered the company to release them.

However, due to their malformation and bad health, Taesan and Boksoon stayed under the protection of Seoul Grand Park until the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries decided they were ready to be released. Since their anxiety was a bigger problem than their malformation, they concluded that the two dolphins going back to their natural habitat and living with their own kind would be the best cure for them.

Officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries say, “After seeing Taesan and Boksoon happy and healthy with the other dolphins, we were able to let go of our concerns that they might not be able to adjust to the wild due to their malformation and depression.”

The Whale lab will continue to observe the dolphins until this weekend. Afterwards, they will check on the released dolphins by monitoring them on a regular basis to observe the process of their adjustment.

Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com