A blue retread?

What you’re looking at is a recap for a dolphin! We know retreads are gaining acceptance, but were surprised when mammals began using them as an accessory.

Actually this is Fuji and her new rubber fin prosthetic. The dolphin lost 75 percent of her tail because of disease, could no longer jump and easily tired while swimming. A veterinarian at the Japanese aquarium asked his friend, who worked at Bridgestone, for help.

Bridgestone engineers created the blue fin prosthetic, which is about 20 inches long and weighs 4.4 pounds. Not surprisingly, Fuji was initially afraid of the blue recap, making it even more difficult for aquarium workers to fasten it on her.

But Fuji quickly accepted the prosthetic fin and began jumping for the first time in two years. Visitors to the aquarium report she’s “much happier” with her new rubber recap.