The UK has recorded the largest number of solitary-sociable cetaceans globally, and for over 25 years, Marine Connection has been monitoring these remarkable individuals. We have documented at least 17 solitary-sociable cetaceans, the majority of which were bottlenose dolphins. Of these, 11 were male, three were female, and two were of unknown sex. In addition to bottlenose dolphins, our records include two solitary common dolphins and one solitary male orca.
An international workshop involving 41 participants from 14 countries was held online on 10 and 12 June 2026 to discuss solitary dolphins and the issues they present. Liz Sandeman, who leads Marine Connection’s project on solitary-sociable dolphins, gave a presentation on the history of solitary-sociable cetaceans in UK waters, tracing records back to the 1960s. Most occurred in England, but others are also known from Wales and Scotland. Evidence from around the world was reviewed alongside relevant published literature.
The workshop recognised that encounters with wild animals can be inspiring and life-enhancing experiences, and that dolphins are globally regarded as charismatic species that often elicit strong emotional responses and foster a sense of connection with the natural world. However, the history of solitary-sociable dolphins- those that actively seek out interactions with people – shows that a large proportion of these animals suffer injuries, die as a result of unintentional human-related factors, or are deliberately killed.
In line with other published assessments of solitary dolphins, the workshop agreed that the most important measure to improve the protection of these animals is to prevent human-induced habituation and sociability towards people.
The full report of the workshop will be released in due course; meanwhile, the workshop statement and management recommendations are available HERE
Learn more about our solitary sociable dolphin project and its ongoing work
