A History of our Dolphins part 6 2021
2 January 2021 - Sadly 6 year old Benji was found deceased today on Novara foreshore.He was taken by DBCA to Murdoch for necropsy. Benji measured approximately 1.87m long (and 57cm blowhole to dorsal)
22 January 2021 - "John Edwards" one of our oldies health is compromised.
31 January 2021 - First time mum Willow has a new little calf today! Sadly this calf Wish then must have deceased (during a time we were lockdown).
31 January 2021- Zetta was found badly stranded in extremes shallows of the Peel Inlet today. She sadly passed during the rescue attempt.
14 February 2021 - Unfortunately Willow was seen today without her newborn calf Wish of 31 January. They had both been missing for almost 2 weeks
15 February 2021 - Another resident dolphin Hook seen today with evidence of stranding ( sunburn on side)
Late February notes = Christmas and coal herded by males. DC weaned from Dylan. More coastals coming in from the ocean.
2 March 2021 - New coastal calves seen born to Makai ( named Angel) and Teddy (named Picnic). Significant number of coastal dolphins with new small shark injuries.
6 March 2021 - 2 newborns seen today born to Bowie (named Genie) and Diver (named Skylar)
6 March 2021 - Dead dolphin found 10km south of the the White Hills Beach entrance track.
31 March 2021 - Wild Turkey being herded by Crook's alliance in the inlet. Krista Nicholson celebrating handing in her PHD today!
5 April 2021 - Wendy seen with no neonate calf, so it is sadly believed Tigerlily ( Tilly) may have deceased.
Wendy was possibly seen alone on 29th ( nighttime sighting). Wendy was seen again on 18th April alone, confirming Tigerlily has deceased.
20 April 2021 - Nicky being herded by 14 and blake and now Hook's alliance
22 April 2021 - First sighting of Hayley's new calf Poppy today. We last saw Hayley ( still pregnant on 20th) so calf is only day/s old.
22 May 2021 - Female adult "Boris" found deceased in the shallows of Harvey Estuary. Recovered by DBCA and taken to Murdoch for necropsy. Approx 2.4m
13 June 2021 - Elder male dolphin "Maxwell" health appears very compromised
16 June 2021 - Nugget resighted in the Peel Inlet after not being seen for a year
28 June 2021 - Maxwell deceased in the Dawesville Cut today. He was extremely emaciated. He measured approx. 2.33m and blowhole to dorsal 68mm.
His body was taken to Murdoch University by DBCA.
28 June 2021 - John Edwards hasn't been seen since February and is presumed deceased.
14 September 2021 - Sadly Female subadult dolphin Eleven has been seen extremely emaciated and is clearly in extremely poor condition
24 September 2021 - 2 deceased dolphins. Sadly adult male resident dolphin "Lemmy" was found deceased in the peel inlet today. His body was recovered the next day in the shallows of Cox Bay and very close by another deceased dolphin was also found thought to be female "Eleven". Thanks to DBCA, Fisheries and volunteers both dolphins have been transported to Murdoch University.
28 September 2021 - Meelan, calf of Malika seen unable to swim due to entanglement of braided fishing line cutting into his right tail fluke that had a huge amount of trailing line and weed attached, slowing his progress. An extremely concerned mother Malika stayed close nearby After frantically trying to free himself they did manage to swim away suggesting at least some of the line had broken or the heavy weed had displaced. Further attempts to locate the pair that afternoon by volunteers, and DBCA for a few hours on marine safety vessel were unsuccessful. Searching by volunteers for several days after failed to find the dolphins, then wild winds and stormy weather prevented further searching for days. The calf and mother were successfully relocated still together by volunteers on Wednesday 6th October, reported in to DBCA who advised they were unable to attend. A limited response the following day was unsuccessful. Following this second response volunteers continued to search.
14 October 2021 - Sadly it is now believed Meelan the entangled calf above has deceased. His mother has been resighted without him for 2 days. She was being followed by males on the second day.
15th October 2021 - River seen without her calf Merak, who is believed to now be weaned. Piper maple also weaned.
23 October 2021 - lots of calves weaned now including maple and CC. Many dolphins look large including Lucy Christmas Hightouchy Coal Anna
24 October 2021 - 3rd annual Luca's Legacy Reel It In Cleanup held
15 November 2021 - After an absence of many months the oceanic cut dolphins have returned to foraging in the cut. Hali now thought to be male?