Dolphins

Jacob spends a lot of time learning about dolphins. One dolphin he knows well is Nicholas, a resident at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). During summer camp there, Jacob would draw nearby and Nicholas would stay upside down beside him. In a Tampa Bay 28 story, Jacob said that moment reminded him he had “a very special bond with this dolphin and a very special friend.”

Nicholas

CMA’s profile of Nicholas says he is an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. He and his mother stranded on Christmas Eve in 2002. Care teams named him after that night. His mother did not survive, and Nicholas was too young to have learned hunting and other skills calves normally learn over years with their mothers, so he could not be released. He became a permanent resident at CMA, where the aquarium describes him as playful and energetic — and fond of figuring out problems during training.

Rescue work

CMA describes itself as a place for rescue, rehabilitation, release when possible, education, research, and conservation. Some animals, like Nicholas, need a forever home because they cannot survive in the wild. Aquarium staff have said that letting young people meet animals in care can help grow the next biologists, trainers, veterinarians, and advocates.

On Belize assessment days in 2026, wild dolphins sometimes met the boats on the way to manatee work. That is a greeting on the water, not a capture. The manatee exams that week are on Belize 2026.

What people can do

Boat speed, fishing gear, and giving wild dolphins space all matter. NOAA Fisheries and CMA share current guidance.