
Dolphin Stranding Hotspot
Did you know that Mandurah has been identified as a dolphin stranding hotspot? Since 1985 there have been at least 36 live strandings involving approximately 60 animals in the Mandurah waterways. With the vast areas of shallow water, low tides and the hot summer temperatures, our dolphins are in great danger of stranding in the Peel-Harvey Estuary. Each year we have many dolphins that strand, some are lucky enough to be seen by the public in time to be rescued but others are not so lucky. The Peel-Harvey Estuary covers an area of approximately 136km², which is two and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour! The average depth is 1.5m, with over 50 % being less than 50cm. Our dolphins venture far and wide into the shallow areas whilst looking for fish and sometimes they can get caught out by the tides and find themselves in trouble. With many of the areas being so remote and inaccessible by boat or land, often the dolphins can strand unnoticed. Dolphins can survive for hours or sometimes even days out of the water. They are able to survive from being stranded if the tide rises in time to get themselves out of trouble or if they are rescued in time. This is why it is so important to be looking out in the shallows especially over the summer months, the quicker they are found the better chance they have of surviving.

Little calf Andrew, stranded 2017 © Andrew O’Connor ABC News

Swimming in the shallows ©Mandurah Dolphin Research Project

Lindy, sunburn from stranding © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

White scars from sunburn, Scarry and Crook 2018 © Natalie Goddard

Scarry 2018 © Mandurah Cruises

Hayley with huge blister from being stranded © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

Sunburn wound healing © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

Hayley, fully healed and left with a white scar © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

Zero One in shallows, 2018 © Mandurah Dolphin Research Project

Stranding Recue © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

Rescue of two dolphins in Black Lake, 2015 © Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group and DBCA
What can you do to help? As the weather gets warmer and with the low spring and summer tides, we are coming into a crucial time of year when it is important to have people looking out around the shallows of the Peel-Harvey waterways. Some of the danger spots are along the rivers and lakes, especially Lake Goegrup and the lakes upstream from the Serpentine River, the south east side of peel inlet and across any shallow banks. If you ever see a stranded dolphin or a dolphin in distress please contact the Wildcare helpline on 08 9474 9055. Here are some tips from the Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group about what to do if you find a dolphin that has stranded. Another way you could help out, if you don’t live locally is by donating to the Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group. They would welcome any donations to help attain further rescue equipment, to ensure a prompt response to any future rescues. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have below and we’ll have our expert dolphin team answer them. To book a dolphin tour with us, click here.