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'This Is Great News': Dolphins Spotted In NYC's Bronx River

January 22, 2023

A pod of dolphins has been spotted swimming in the Bronx River in New York City.

The city's Department of Parks and Recreation posted a video on Twitter.

It's true—dolphins were spotted in the Bronx River this week! This is great news—it shows that the decades-long effort to restore the river as a healthy habitat is working. We believe these dolphins naturally found their way to the river in search of fish.
(Video: Nick Banco) pic.twitter.com/40ZNgBjJZs

— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) January 19, 2023

"This is great news—it shows that the decades-long effort to restore the river as a healthy habitat is working," city officials said.

Wildlife Conservation Society scientist Howard Rosenbaum said the dolphins appeared healthy and not in distress.

"We've come a long way across multiple decades of environmental improvement, water quality cleaning, better environmental stewardship, better relations, all of which helps the overall environment and then leads to recovery of these systems," he said. "I think it's just great that these things are happening and hopefully the overall environmental recovery for these urban waterways continues, and we continue to see marine wildlife – their habitats, their prey – flourish."

The Department of Parks and Recreation is encouraging citizens to welcome the dolphins to the Bronx.

"We encourage you to welcome these dolphins to the Boogie Down! Make sure that they're comfortable during their visit by giving them space and not disturbing them," they said.