Read all about Western Australia’s best wild dolphin population on our weekly Mandurah Dolphin Blog. Feel free to comment and ask questions on the stories for our dolphin experts to answer. We work very closely with the Mandurah Dolphin Research Project as well as the Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group to monitor the health and well being of our dolphin population. Collectively we share our observations – reporting any new arrivals or areas of concern.
We never lose sight of the fact that the Mandurah dolphins are wild creatures. We are just so lucky they are naturally curious and playful animals who are very happy to share their life with us.
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Dolphins are known to be highly social and intelligent animals that display complex behaviours. It is no surprise that outside of humans the most complex social groups and structures have been found in bottlenose dolphins. Specific research supporting this has been done on a population of dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia and similar behaviours …
Our dolphins here in Mandurah have each been named and are identified by their unique dorsal fin characteristics, such as the shape and notches. There are several ways they can get these notches in their fins – from playing and fighting with each other, fishing line entanglements and from encounters with sharks.
On Wednesday 11th April 2018 a wild dolphin birth was observed and captured on camera by Mandurah Cruises & the Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group. To witness a dolphin giving birth (in the wild) is extremely rare, this being only the second occasion ever documented in the world. The day started out just like any other …
A dolphin’s diet consists predominantly of fish, caught by chasing them and rounding them up with their group. They are also opportunistic feeders who catch what they can, when they can and so, Mandurah’s dolphins have developed some complex techniques to find and catch food that is unique to their habitat.
There was much excitement this week when resident dolphin Topnotch turned up with her newborn calf, Carter. Topnotch is often seen in town and was first sighted with her calf early this week on our Dolphin & Scenic Canal Cruise.
The calving season has well and truly started here in Mandurah with 6 newborn calves sighted over the last two months. The first calf was spotted in early January, the mum being ‘Christmas’ who is often seen in town.
What a way to end our Christmas Lights Cruise season with one of our favourite dolphins Christmas giving birth to a calf! First sighted by Mandurah Cruises tour guide and dolphin expert Martin on 6th January, it was believed to be only a day or 2 old. Resident town dolphin Christmas has joined us for most …
Meet our second dolphin for the season – ‘DC’. Mandurah Dolphin Research Project and Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group announced the name of the youngster. “DC is named after Doug Coughran, a long serving senior wildlife officer (now retired) with the government. Doug has attended, responded to, and advised on Mandurah dolphin strandings and entanglements for decades. …
The 5th week of January was a beautiful summer’s week with temperatures in the low 30s. The dolphins were sighted every day along our cruise route and joined us on many occasions for a ride. A few new additions to Mandurah’s dolphin population were sighted this week! That’s right, new babies (calves)! They were sighted …
The dolphins were very active during the fourth week of January. They were sighted every day along our cruise route and joined us on many occasions for a ride. On Australia Day there were hundreds of people on the water and this didn’t deter the dolphins, they too were out there all day celebrating our …
