
Mandurah Dolphin Birth Captured on Camera
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 day – with our 11am Dolphin Scenic Canal Cruise sighting dolphins swimming into town waters. Dolphins present were Christmas and her calf Spirit, Laika and her newborn and heavily pregnant Squarecut. They appeared to be snagging (resting on the surface of the water). At 1:50pm, during the 1pm Dolphin & Scenic Canal Cruise the crew noticed Squarecut again appearing to be snagging in the shallows by the new Mandurah bridge but this time by herself for a long period. Concerned that she was injured or unwell they cruised over towards her to get a closer look. She then swam over to the vessel, turned on her side and the crew noticed a small tail poking out of her underside or as captain Rhys Ball said “There is a dolphin hanging out of a dolphin”. Tour guide on board Mandjar, Rebecca Andrews, witnessed the moment with the boat full of guests and said, “We were all shocked and second guessing ourselves at what we were seeing”. The Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group, who were out monitoring the dolphins on the day, were contacted and attended immediately to monitor Squarecut from a distance with long lens equipment. They observed what appeared to be contractions as the dolphin was doing lots of back arching and pushing. She appeared extremely uncomfortable, travelling side to side across the estuary channel. Over the hour and a half of labour, constant changes in behaviour were observed, from travelling fast with bursts of speed and even leaping into the air several times, to slow movement into the shallows and arching of her back. On a few occasions she rolled onto her side and a small tail was clearly visible.
At 3.34pm a new little calf was born (1.5 hours after first being sighted in labour). Robyn Bickell from the Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group was part of the team that observed the rare moment and said “There was a big splash and the calf eventually surfaced, taking its first breath and then splashing around learning to swim. The tiny little calf’s dorsal fin and tail were like jelly, flopped over lacking firmness. Initially the calf went one direction and mum went the other, as it learnt its sense of direction, swimming all over the place and trying to keep upright. After approximately 5 minutes mum and calf came together with the calf going into baby position. They then made their way across the Peel Inlet and into the Murray River.” “It was a truly incredible experience, to witness a dolphin give birth and this tiny little calf taking its first breath of life is just amazing, something I will never forget”, Robyn said.

© Photo by Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

© Photo by Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group

© Photo by Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group