Out of 41 dolphin species, five species and six subspecies are endangered due to human activity, according to World Animal Protection US and Earth.
Dolphin Awareness Month takes place in March, and contrary to popular belief, this animal is endangered. These 31 days are dedicated to recognizing the deaths of many dolphins at the hands of humans. There are multiple actions people can take to stop the extinction of dolphins.
“Everyone can do their part to help the environment even in the most basic ways,” sophomore Ava Kruciak said. “One of the big things is reducing single-use plastics; it just takes being aware of what you’re consuming.”
In addition to being an incoming Environmental Studies Program student, Ava volunteers at the aquarium and experiences up-close interactions with the sea life. The Virginia Aquarium offers boat tours in the Rudee Inlet, beginning March 15, 2025. These tours give visitors the chance to see bottlenose dolphins swim close by, as they are relatively common in Virginia Beach.
In 2024, The Current newspaper adopted Chance, a female bottlenose dolphin from the Oceanic Society.
Adopting a dolphin can significantly improve ocean life for them and other marine animals. As stated on their website, organizations like Oceanic Society thrive off of donations, like paying to adopt a dolphin to protect marine life.
“As a beach school, I think it’s good that as a community we can make an impact on wildlife,” junior Maddie Murrell said after learning about Chance’s adoption.
Dolphins of every species, from ocean to river types, are often captured and killed.
Fishermen use their fatty blubber as bait to catch other marine life. A leading cause of death for dolphins is incidental bycatch, which occurs when they’re caught by fishermen searching for another species.
Changes in the environment also play a huge role in the risk of dolphins.
Virginia Beach is in the process of building as many as 180 wind turbines 27 miles off the coast. The change in climate could potentially affect the range of migration patterns, according to Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. It would be hard for these species to quickly adapt to the change in daily life, which could lead to an inability to reproduce, disorderly distribution or even their demise.
“I have mixed feelings about [the project]; the shift to renewable energy is important and commendable, but we also need to make sure that it is not negatively impacting other aspects of our environment,” AP Environmental Science and oceanography teacher Nicholas DiNapoli said.
Besides construction in the ocean, runoff is one of the leading causes of water pollution that targets the lives of sea animals. Something small, like reducing water usage or cutting back on harmful chemicals like herbicides and pesticides, can do a great deal of change for the health of the ocean.
The Columbus Zoo is sponsoring the Plastic-Free Ecochallenge. People set a challenge for themselves, and following it earns them points. Whether competing alone or with the Virginia Aquarium team, it has helped create quality eco-friendly habits for those participating.
“Ultimately, anything you can do to support the environment is amazing, no matter how small. Every action matters,” Ava said. “We’ve only got one world, and it’s really special.”
