There’s a NYC transplant who’s getting a lot of buzz at the moment: the dolphin in the East River.
Onlookers were surprised to see a Common Dolphin — two, actually — getting the lay of the sea on the Upper East Side, where they were swimming around Randall’s Island, Manhattan, and Mill Rock. According to Gotham Whale, an organization that was fortunate enough to capture the footage, the duo was feeding in the strong current where the Harlem and East Rivers meet.
If you had to do a double take when the pals popped up on your Instagram feed, rest assured your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Have a better look at the mammals below.
See the dolphin in the East River
If this seems like déjà vu, it is. Two years ago in April 2023, a Bottlenose Dolphin ventured to the exact same spot. A year prior, dolphins in the Hudson River were kind enough to swim alongside kayakers and give them a NYC experience like no other.
Per Gotham Whale, it’s not uncommon to see dolphins in NYC waters. The two who ventured our way this February are more common off-shore, but are known to frequent NYC in colder weather, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The organization also notes that the cleanliness of the water and available prey are reasons why they likely traveled to the city.
If this unique sight wasn’t on your 2025 Bingo card, it should be. Per the NYC Parks Department assures us that this visit is a good sign that “shows that the decades-long effort to restore the river as a healthy habitat is working.”
Whatever pops in NYC waters next, we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.