« Maybe a MacBook Nano? | Main | Shoe Addictions »
February 16, 2007
This Dolphin Thanks Bridgestone Tires
This is a touching story about a dolphin name Fuji at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium who got a second lease on life thanks to the most unlikely of friends; the Bridgestone Corporation. You see, Fuji suffered from a debilitating form of fin rot - a bizarre and rare case of localized necrosis. To keep the disease from spreading, Veterinarians had to amputate most of her fin. Dolphins need to play in order to be happy but without her fin, Fuji was unable to keep up with her brethren, thus she grew depressed and withdrawn.
That's when an $83,000 research grant from Bridgestone gave this dolphin a second chance. Made from the same rubber used in Formula 1 race cars, Bridgestone crafted a custom fin fitted for her body. The prosthetic has given Fuji full range of motion and within weeks, she was jumping in the air again.
It sounds like an easy task but making rubber as smooth as dolphin skin is incredibly difficult. Not to mention making a rubber fin light enough to wear for the rest of her life and one that will resist corrosion. Congratulations and many thanks to the research team, Bridgestone and the Fuji's caretakers for not giving up.
YouTube video
via neatorama
Posted by tranism at 10:15 PM | Permalink
Comments
Does she swim faster than the other dolphins?
Posted by: Douglas at February 17, 2007 3:37 AM
I wonder if the other dolphins even realize.
Posted by: Vicki at February 18, 2007 1:17 PM