Marine Connection has been working for the protection of solitary/social dolphins and whales for many years and has launched a new public awareness campaign to highlight the threats facing these enigmatic marine mammals.
Over time we have come to understand that whilst habituation is a danger to each and every solitary cetacean, their location, and the conditions therein, as well as the individual personality traits of the animal concerned, makes each solitary/social cetacean case unique. Solitary/social dolphins do not automatically choose to socialise with humans, but if they remain in a specific area for some time, do go through various stages of habituation as outlined in our ‘Lone Rangers’ report.
As part of our ongoing work to protect these vulnerable individuals, we have produced posters which are erected in areas which solitary cetaceans are known to frequent, both around the coastline of mainland UK and also Northern Ireland. We raise awareness via local media and also harbour masters to ensure the public gains a better understanding of the welfare needs of these dolphins when and where they appear.
During the production of our video, the unique solitary dolphin known as Fungie, who remained in Dingle Bay for over 37 years, suddenly disappeared from the area. Despite extensive searches, there have been no recent sighting of him, therefore we can only presume that Fungie has died. Due to his age, this was, of course, inevitable at some point, however, his absence from Dingle and the loss of this iconic dolphin is felt by many, we can only hope that his long life does give some consolation to those whose lives he touched.
Reports received in October 2020 regarding Danny, a solitary/social dolphin we were monitoring in Dorset, had been found dead in Portland Harbour brought further sadness, especially as Danny’s story is not one of a long and happy life, but one cut short by a tragic accident. The necropsy showed that Danny, a healthy, robust male dolphin in the prime of his life, had been killed by a vessel strike. The fact that the boat was one which Danny often accompanied in and around the harbour and was known to him sadly made no difference and highlights the fact that as these dolphins lose their natural wariness, tragic accidents like this can and will continue to occur.
When solitary/social dolphins (or whales) appear in an area, Marine Connection urges the public to watch these animals from the shore and not attempt to interact with them, especially directly in the water. There is much that can be learned from observing solitary dolphins or whales that frequent the same area over a period of time, however, it is vital that the safety of the animal is paramount. One way to gain a better understanding and appreciation of solitary cetaceans and the issues they face is by raising public awareness, and our video plays a vital role in achieving this aim.
