The team at Inverness Leisure are preparing themselves for a very special visitor this morning having agreed to help out one of the Moray Firth Dolphins who is suffering from the dolphin equivalent of the common cold - referred to in marine biology terms as Prial Olof.

 

The Bught Lane facility were approached to see if they would allow the Dolphin to be placed in the pool to heat up and recouperate. Research has shown that dophins who manage to get themselves into warm water tend not to suffer from the dolphin common cold.

 

Part of the 25 metre competition pool will be given over to the first of many 'Flippers' when the building opens today.  However the staff have been informed that it is essential the dolphin will be back in the Moray Firth by 12 noon.

 

A spokesperson for Inverness Leisure said, "The dolphin will only require the equivalent of two lanes in the pool and we have been informed that it will be happy to swim up and down for the period it will be with us.  Apparently they have excellent lane discipline and will not get in the way of other customers or swimming lessons.

 

"The only very minor alterations we have had to make that customers will notice is to ever so slightly turn the heating up in the pool.

 

Concluding, the spokesperson said, "We have been assured that the Dolphin will be removed from the pool by 12 noon so that our regular lunchtime lane swimmers will get the usual access to the favourite lanes."

 

The facility is now into the fourth month of the year and felt they would be silly not to help out.