Bottlenose dolphin still trapped in Chiquita Lock

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- A bottlenose dolphin remains trapped in local canal.

Federal, state, and local wildlife officials were unable to free the dolphin that’s been stuck near the Chiquita Lock for two weeks.

The dolphin put on quite a show for boaters at Cape Harbour Friday, but wildlife officials say this can’t go on much longer.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral Police Department and FWC all had boats in the water, trying to get the dolphin to swim through the Chiquita Lock and back to open water.

“We’ve been watching the poor dolphin out here since the beginning of April,” said resident Lin Laudel.

“It’s very unusual to see them within the marina. Actually, we usually see them out in front of Rum Runners in that area, but very, very rarely do they come through the lock,” said Paul Tee.

WINK News cameras captured the dolphin swimming in almost every direction around the lock, except through it.

“The other day I saw him over by Fathoms in the marina,” said Tee.

The lock was closed to boaters during the operation, several had to be turned away.

But after three hours, and no luck with the dolphin, officials called it a day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is taking the lead on this rescue effort, says they plan to try this one more time someday soon.

If they’re unsuccessful again, they say they may take on a more hands-on approach of actually capturing the dolphin, which will require a lot more manpower.