Dolphin's enhanced silicone rubber replacement tail fin
FUJI, a dolphin that lost 75 per cent of her tail due to a mysterious disease, is jumping once again with the help of what is believed to be the world's first artificial fin.
The 34-year-old dolphin, held at Japan's largest aquarium on the southern island of Okinawa, wears the rubber fin for about 20 minutes a day, allowing her to jump and swim at the same speed as other dolphins.
Fuji was stricken by a mysterious disease causing necrosis - the death of cells - in 2002. Vets had to amputate most of her tail.
After the surgery, a vet at the aquarium asked his friend at Bridgestone, Japan's largest tyre-maker, for help.
A spokesman for Bridgestone said the most difficult technical challenge was creating rubber with a surface texture smooth enough to avoid scratching the dolphin's skin.
The company began working on the fin in 2003, but several samples were either too heavy or loose for the dolphin, which is 2.7m long and weighs 227kg.
Researchers used divers and underwater cameras to monitor and record Fuji swimming, continually re-engineering and improving the fin throughout 2004.
It was only in August, after Bridgestone created the lightest fin, that Fuji finally jumped.
Embed code for Blogs
Simply copy and paste the following HTML code below into your blog, website, or MySpace profile.
Copy to Clipboard
Share this video:
Simply click the button below and select your social bookmarking site.
Tag Cloud
Category: Animals & Species
FUJI, a dolphin that lost 75 per cent of her tail due to a mysterious disease, is jumping once again with the help of what is believed to be the world's first artificial fin.
The 34-year-old dolphin, held at Japan's largest...
Views: 17850
Category: Science & Technology
The mini-documentary goes behind-the-scenes with the Intel scientists, engineers, and technicians who continue to invent and make ever-more advanced...
Tags:
inventor, home pc, technician, computer, technology, microprocessor, processor, engineer, scientist, silicon valley, intel, documentary
Views: 8915
Tree Canada Foundation: Filter
NetSmartz: Family Concern
ABD-UNAIDS: HIV and AIDS Report in Asia-Pacific
Comparison of electricity in developed and non-developed countries
World Breastfeeding Week focuses on the early start of breastfeeding
Domestic Violence Prevention - Father and Son
Iraq call to action
NetSmartz: Internet Safety
Bluetooth SIG: Bluetooth in Healthcare
The ONE Campaign: Matt Damon Interview
OnStar introduces two new navigational services
Environmental Defense: Tick
Jacques Rogge, IOC President at the Opening Ceremony of the 119th IOC session
US Department of State: Voices of Hope Intro
Cure Search
Jessica Biel - Live Earth PSA
AARP: Glaucoma
UNICEF: Venezuela Indigenous Añu - Spanish