Two more new-born dolphins called Merlin and Tinsel have died in Adelaide’s Port River (Australia) over the past week and the death rate is now exceeding the natural rate expected for a wild dolphin pod.
About 40-50 dolphins live in the Port River, which leads to Port Adelaide’s inner harbour and the latest death puts more pressure on Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to release his final plan to reduce speed limits in the Adelaide dolphin sanctuary. A calf found in 2018 called Holly died as a result of blunt trauma – likely caused by a boat, and if the death rates continue this dolphin population could simply disappear in the coming years.
Photo Credit: Jenni Wyrsta
