New research has found tourism operators could be putting dolphin populations at risk by allowing them to be fed by visitors to Western Australia (WA). The study from Murdoch University, which looked at more than 60 dolphins around the Bunbury area, found dolphins which were not fed by the Bunbury Discovery Centre were two times more likely to give birth and had more success raising calves. One-third of Bunbury calves from fed dolphins survive until three years old and is likely because the dolphins had become reliant on humans for food, which could lead to female dolphins becoming less maternal towards their calves. Lead researcher Valeria Senigaglia said it may only be a couple of fish per day and therefore the dolphins still have to feed by themselves, but because it’s so reliable as a source of food they’re hooked to come to the beach each day.
In Western Australia, there are two dolphin feeding locations licensed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), the Bunbury Discovery Centre and the Monkey Mia reserve 900km north of Perth. The Department would not be drawn on whether it planned to scrap the practice in WA but a spokeswoman said strict conditions were in place to protect the dolphins in Bunbury and Monkey Mia.
