When we encounter a group of dolphins we record which individuals are present.
Whether they are adults, juveniles or calves, we record them and make notes on their behaviour.
Feeding dolphins is illegal, but more importantly it is not good for the dolphin.
- Krista Nicholson
We also record whether we observe the dolphins begging for food.
This behaviour is defined by dolphins approaching a boat, most often to the back or side, without being scared of it.
Dolphins remain very close to the boat and if several boats are present, they may move from one to the other if not successfully obtaining food.
Dolphins may also bring their head or upper body vertically out of the water and open their mouth.
This kind of begging behaviour indicates that dolphins have been conditioned to accept food from boats.
This may be either people intentionally feeding the animals or dolphins waiting for caught fish to be thrown back in the water.
We are very happy to report that we have not recorded this behaviour in the Peel-Harvey or in the adjacent coastal waters.
Why is it bad to feed the dolphins?
First, hand-fed dolphins have an increased risk of injury and death from boat related injuries and fishing line entanglements.
Second, feeding dolphins has been known to dramatically change their behaviour.
Their movement patterns may become abnormal and they may stop socializing with other dolphins and become ‘loners’, which may increase their risk of being attacked by sharks.
They may also face reproductive failure and not care for their young adequately.
Feeding dolphins is illegal, but more importantly it is not good for the dolphin.
We would like you to spread this message to make sure as we share the waterways with the dolphins we keep our food to ourselves.
The Mandurah Dolphin Research Project is a partnership between Murdoch University, City of Mandurah, Peel Development Commission, John and Bella Perry, Mandurah Cruises and Mandurah Dolphin Rescue.
