A homemade dolphin pen has been used to help Dolphin mom Cirrus and her calf out of harm's way as Tropical Storm Jose heads nearer.

Dolphin Quest staff built the contraption out of PVC piping and plastic netting and enticed the pair in from their pool at the Southampton Princess.

The mobile pen had to be built after Hurricanes Gert and Floyd had destroyed the access road to the facility.

The contraption was dragged up to the beach where divers eased the animals onto stretchers to take them to the waiting truck.

The pair were then taken to the Maritime Museum in Dockyard to join their four pals who have been there since just before Hurricane Gert hit in September.

The baby dolphin was kept in a tank during the six-mile journey while the mother rested on foam with Dolphin Quest volunteers on hand to sponge her down.

The operation took around four hours and involved 25 helpers.

Before Hurricane Gert, the pair had stayed at the Dolphin Quest site at the Southampton Princess before escaping with two others after swells had battered their pool.

Dolphin Quest had argued that the calf would have been at great risk if moved at such a young age.

Dolphin Quest spokesman Chris Heslop: "It has been a learning experience and we have learned from what has happened to us.'' Mr. Heslop said yesterday's move had been groundbreaking. He explained: "We believe it is the first time in the world a dolphin as young as this has been moved.

"We will be presenting papers about this. It is a big plus for Bermuda.'' He said Dolphin Quest were looking at building a catamaran around the moveable pen so Dolphins could be moved without ever taking them out of the water.

And he said it was now okay to move the calf.

He explained: "The difference now is that the calf is a month older and is eating solid foods.

"Last time Floyd had stirred up the water making it so murky. You couldn't see a foot in front of your face.

"To try and capture a calf in that situation when it had never been handled before would have been very detrimental to its health.

"They will stay in Dockyard until we are able to repair and improve the facility.

"We are in discussion with the hotel and designers, but we haven't made any firm decisions yet.

"We are hopefully going to get professional maritime engineers to help design it.'' The onset of Tropical Storm Jose could halt weekend moves to find Gibbs and Dolber who are now in their fifth week of freedom.

Mr. Heslop said: "We are still getting sightings, but not recently and we haven't been able to confirm them by the time we get out there.

"But people are very good about calling in.'' Penned in: This mobile pen is being used to protect dolphins from the clutches of Tropical Storm Jose.

SEA