its animals from the storm surge which led to four of them escaping.

Janet Ellis has worked as a Dolphin Quest volunteer for 12 months and said her views were typical of most of the unpaid helpers.

She said: "Hurricanes are to be expected in Bermuda, we have a hurricane season.

"I don't understand why these dolphins were expected to fend for themselves whilst trying to protect a three-month old baby in the midst of a hurricane and the only explanation offered is that the best decision was made under the circumstances.

"I would expect there to be an evacuation procedure in place that had been tested, worked efficiently and the dolphins are familiar with.

"Failing that, a facility should have been built to protect the dolphins from any hurricane damage.

"These dolphins are kept in captivity and rely on their trainers to protect them.

"Sadly this trust has now been betrayed.'' Ms Ellis blamed Dolphin Quest bosses for a lack of planning and organisation in preparing for the hurricane season and the birth of a baby dolphin "both of which provide 12 months' warning''.

She said she had gone public in disgust at the attack on environmentalist Graeme Outerbridge by Gary Campbell in The Royal Gazette's Letters to the Editor page on October 11.

Mr. Outerbridge had been one of the first on the scene when massive waves destroyed the dolphin compound at the Southampton Princess, causing debris to break loose and batter the animals on September 20.

Despite the problems the animals were facing dodging the loose walkways in the tiny compound, no Dolphin Quest representative was there with them.

By the time they had arrived, the animals had escaped.

However, Mr. Campbell's letter poured scorn on Mr. Outerbridge's claim that he had helped free Dolber from netting.

But Ms Ellis said: "I would like to thank Graeme Outerbridge for making an attempt to save these poor dolphins.

"It serves no purpose in attacking anyone personally, particularly those who tried to help, but rather making suggestions for future planning so as to avoid anything like this happening again.'' She added that she did not have a problem with Dolphin Quest's handling of their animals on a day-to-day basis, but she was confident the Government inquiry would prove if any negligence was involved in the escape of the four dolphins.

Cirrus and her baby calf were brought back by Dolphin Quest on September 26.

But elderly female Dolber and adult male Gibbs are now in their fourth week of fending for themselves.

Dolphin Quest admitted that the dolphins are unused to hunting for food, but hope they can take advantage of the teems of mackerel in the area.

Efforts to find the pair have been hampered by poor weather and on Monday night a Dolphin Quest boat broke down at Astwood Cove in Warwick and had to be towed ashore by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' boat.