calmed yesterday although they admitted they had nowhere to put them at present.

They managed to feed male Gibbs four times yesterday but mum Cirrus has not been fed since escaping the Dolphin Quest pen with her calf and two pals on Monday.

Dolphin Quest denied the mother would be especially weakened as it continued to nurse its three-month-old calf.

Dolphin Quest's director of Corporate Communications Chris Heslop said: "Cirrus might be finding food although they are not used to feeding themselves.

"Cirrus is good for at least a couple of weeks. She's a big girl and will be able to keep nursing her calf for that time.

"There was a possible spotting of Cirrus and her calf at Warwick Long Bay but we were unable to confirm it.

"We are concerned for all of our dolphins.'' The company have posted eight sets of lookouts with binoculars along the South Shore to radio in sightings to two boats based at Dolphin Quest's centre at the Southampton Princess.

Mr. Heslop said: "When we get sightings we go and try to get out there as fast as we can.

"It's better to have boats in a central place to respond to calls than to try to go out and see anything at water level.

"Although it's calmed down, the water is still choppy and when the waves rise it's difficult to see when the dolphin has reared it's head to breathe.'' "It's so murky out there with sand churned up which makes it difficult to see them in the water if you are 25-30 feet away.

"The main thing is to maintain contact with the dolphins.

"We have two trainers out on our boat and the Department of Fisheries has also lent us a boat.'' "Gibbs definitely recognised us. He's not really moving very far from the facility -- he's just hanging out and surfing.'' Yesterday dolphins were seen between Warwick Long Bay and Church Bay.

Mr. Heslop said: "The dolphins can't return to their pen at the Southampton Princess at the moment. We can't clear out the debris until the insurers have done the assessment.

"We are looking at other facilities over the next 24 hours. One is Dockyard where the other four are.

"But there are a few other places but I don't want to say what they are at the moment.'' Dolphins still at sea "We don't want to be doing repair work on the Southampton Princess site while the dolphins are in there. We just want the best for the dolphins.'' Mr. Heslop praised the help of the public in phoning in sightings and encouraged them to continue so Dolphin Quest could get food to them.

Wild dolphins are rarely spotted in Bermudian waters because of the lack of food sources and the nearest wild dolphins are around 1,000 miles away in Florida where herring and squid are plentiful.

He said: "The public response has been absolutely amazing. People keep turning up and saying `What can I do to help'.'' Yesterday Marine Mammal Biologist James Conyers sprang to the defence of Dolphin Quest who have been attacked for not moving the dolphins before waves overran their facility.

Mr. Conyers, of the Conservation and Research of Island Species and Insular Systems, said: "Dolphin Quest had an extremely difficult decision. The key factor would have been the age of the new-born dolphin. Juvenile dolphins are put at extreme risk when transported and stress levels can seriously compromise their health.'' Mr. Conyers said he thought it was this factor and not a question of money which influenced Dolphin Quest's decision.

If you spot a dolphin call Dolphin Quest on 239 6957.