Copyright S.Kirby
1 October 1990- 10 bottlenose dolphins were found in Lake
Goegrup,2 unfortunately having already died. 8 were rescued,and freeze-branded 01 to
08 then released under the new bridge. All were males and measured approx. 2.2
metres in length.
3 February 1991- 2 bottlenose dolphins were trapped in Lake Goegrup, already freeze-branded 02 and 03. They were
released under the new traffic bridge.
13 January 1992- 1 Bottlenose dolphin found trapped in Lake Goegrup, already freeze-branded 06,had
to be put down due to horrific sun burns
5 December 1994- 4 bottlenose dolphins stranded on mudflats at
Soldiers Cove , all males, and were freezebranded 12,13,14, and 15. These dolphins were
released to deeper water from the old boat ramp, south of the old traffic
bridge
10 December 1995- bottlenose dolphin freezebranded
12 was observed in a poor condition in Yunderup. This dolphin was captured and
given a vet assessment, and a blood profile taken, then
released. He was found dead on 23 December 1995 inside the Dawesville Cut,
cause of death established by post mortem to be peritonitis.
8 November 1996- A dolphin stranded on the
mudflats of Falcon for six or seven hours prior to being rescued.
The adult 2.2metre bottlenose was struggling in water only 15cms deep. Although
distressed, the dolphin was not sunburnt or hurt. The dolphin's condition was
checked by a vet, before he was placed on an inflateable
raft and towed to deeper water. This dolphin was not freezebranded.
13 March 1997- 6 bottlenose dolphins were trapped in Lake Goegrup, 2 adult females, 1 juvenile female,
and 3 males. These dolphins were freezebranded 01 (a
male rebranded from previous stranding), 17 (male), 20 (female), 21 (female
calf), 22 (her mother), 23 (male). Number 23 carried an old brand, probably
from the 1990 Lake Goegrup stranding which may have
been 05.
29 Sept 97- A mother and her young calf were rescued from
stranding in the shallows in the yunderup branch of
the peel inlet. This is near Coopers mill. Canoeists
found the pair about 10am in some distress. Together with a local resident they
used sacks to successfully take the mother and calf out to deeper water. The
mother in particular suffered bad burns to her back.
8 March 1998 - 3 adult dolphins were stranded in low water off
Mandurah quays during the night. Two were able to be coaxed out to deeper water
and safety. However, the third dolphin needed to be lifted by sling and caried out by rescuers as it was physically stranded,
unable to move at all by itself. All dolphins reunited once they were in safer
waters and swam off strongly. No sunburn was reported. The dolphin that was
physically stranded had an old freezebranded number
on its dorsal, the first letter being 0.
26 March 1998 - A dead dolphin was found in Mandurah's estuary
waters. The dolphin had lost many of it's
teeth and so was very old. It was not freezebranded
and no visible signs of injury were observed. Measurements were taken, 2.57m in
length, dorsal height 140mm, body width 635mm. It was presumed it had died from
natural causes (old age)
30 March 1998 - Two dolphins were sighted stranded in Lake Goegrup, one physically unable to move on mudflats, the
other swimming nearby in a deeper channel unable to escape due to the low
tides. The stranded dolphin was freezebranded number
17, who has been stranded before. This dolphin had a series of cuts on its
head, so regular it was thought they may have been injuries from a boat
propeller. As well as these cuts, it also had an injury on it's tail, from the stranding. It was decided to
place 17 on a sling and carry him to the deeper channel, to join the other
dolphin. Though obviously exhausted and stressed from its stranding, this
dolphin breached out of the water, once it was released and in safety. As the
tides rose overnight, it was hoped both dolphins would then be able to navigate
across, and out of Lake Goegrup safely. A search of
Lake Goegrup and the Peel inlet the next day, revealed this plan had been successful, and number 17
was seen swimming strongly with a large pod of other dolphins.
19 April 1998 - A dolphin was seen pushing and carrying her dead
(miscarried) calf on her snout, surrounded by a large pod of other dolphins in
the Peel Inlet.
19 April 1998 22 has a new calf, (her next after 21) also
another mother seen with newborn
30 May 1998 Uboat (nicky) seen with
newborn
15 July 1998 - A young calf was seen trailing prawn netting
underneath it, and wrapped around its body, swimming with it's mother number 22. Initial efforts to catch the
calf were unsuccessful and a full CALM response was planned for the next day.
However, on finding the baby again the next morning, it was clear the calf had
been able to escape the netting by itself overnight. This calf is now named
FALLON.
18 August 1998 - An adult dead dolphin was washed up on San Remo
beach. very badly decomposed. No identifying marks or
features could be distinguished.
26 August 1998 - 2 whales were sighted off silver sands beach
inshore, one appearing to be in trouble. Despite the second whales
attempts to be guiding the other out to deeper water, one of the whales then
beached alive. However, it died within an hour and obviously had been very
sick. It was found to be an adult fin whale, approx 15m, 40 tonnes approx,
possibly 30 yrs old, with no visible wounds other than scrapes from being
tossed onto the rough sand repeatably in the rough
shore waves. It had stood no chance of survival.
4th Oct 1998 A mother
dolphin is seen with significant sunburn on her back from a stranding near
coopers mill (she was with her calf)
Dec 1998 The dolphin now named scars
seen with large sunburn wounds on either side of her dorsal. Must have been
stranded
15 April 1999- A dead male calf was found washed up on the beach
between Halls Head and Falcon. Only approx 4 months old, it probably died from
starvation as it was very emancipated.
15 April 1999 2 newborns sighted born approx end of march
April/may 1999 another newborn seen
29th September 1999 – mother seen with tiny
calf
15 October 1999 - A dead female 1.64m bottlenose dolphin was
found washed up on a sandbed outside murray river
entrance in the peel inlet. Cause of death unknown.
27 November 1999 - Decomposed dead adult dolphin found washed up
on the beach at Falcon. Had most probably been caught in craypot ropes and
drowned. Length 2.4m
10 February 2000 - Dead male bottlenose dolphin found
decomposing on Madora Beach. May have been very old as it's teeth were almost completely worn down flat.
Length 2.35m
2 very young calves, possibly stillborns found dead and badly
decomposed south of white hills Dawesville. Lengths 1.m and
1.2m.
26 Febraury 2000 - Mother and calf
pair found stranded in shallow water between the Serpentine and murray river
entrances. People crabbing nearby were able to successfully assist the pair out
to deeper safe waters.
1 May 2000 - Dead male bottlenose dolphin washed up on the beach
1/2km south of Avalon. Length 2.5m teeth quite flattened with age.
15 August 2000 - A female short finned pilot whale washed up
dead alone at falcon beach, very decomposed. It was thought to be already dead
by approximately 2 weeks. Length 4.1m. No teeth seen
2 December 2000 - A severely sunburnt dolphin was first noticed
by Dolphin Encounters Mandurah. This dolphin must have been stranded and been
able to eventually work itself free once the tide rose. It has later been
established this was the male dolphin freeze branded with number 15 and his
constant companion male freezebranded number 14 was
also stranded and suffered burns. Both dolphins are now recovered.
27th December 2000 - 3 beaked whales stranded in mandurah. One was found dead at Avalon. The other two were
assisted by CALM, emergency rescue officers, the volunteer dolphin rescue group
and many members of the public, out to sea. One of these whales later restranded at Secret Harbour and was then successfully
rescued and taken far out to sea by boat beyond the reef. The total rescue
efforts took nearly 10 1/2hrs. As neither whale was reported restranded or dead, it is considered that the two rescues
were successful.
A dolphin with it's tail and body caught in
craypot ropes in the ocean south of the Dawesville cut now owes its life to
three mandurah residents who successfully cut it
free.
24 June 2001 - A small male calf was found dead washed up on
Seascape beach. Length 1.37m long. It is thought it
may have run foul of heavy surf and the reef during a
recent storm.
Mid to late August 2001 A young calf is reported to have been
found dead washed up in the Estuary, near the Cut.
4 September 2001 - A 2m bottlenose dolphin was found dead on
rocks at the Cut under the Dawesville Bridge.
Early 2002 scars has a baby. This baby seemed to go missing by march 2003
17th Jan 2002 newborn seen
28th January 2002 mother seen mourning dead ( very tiny) calf
12th March 2002 2nd newborn sighted
25th March 2002 brand new calf just born sighted dorsal
fin still very floppy
By April 2002 now 5 calves
6 May 2002- A young (almost newborn) male calf still
with foetal folds unfortunately got itself wedged under branches at the side of
the Serpentine river in very high tide conditions due to a storm, and drowned.
The calf was heard calling out in distress to the nearby pod, just prior to its
death.
31st March 2003 2nd newborn sighted for
the year.
Scars calf now missing ………
Winter 2003 - A pilot whale died after battling heavy seas off
Madora Bay
March 2004 - A mother and calf stranded in Lake Geogrup and suffered severe burns. The calf was
unfortunately later found dead off the Yunderup canal entrance on Friday 26th
March 2004.
27th March 2004 - A Gray's beaked whale was found stranded in a
shallow inlet bay immediately adjacent to the Dawesville Cut. The whale was
assisted to deeper water with the high tide. After restranding
the following day still in the Harvey Estuary area, the whale was herded by
boats out to the ocean through the Dawesville cut.
18 May 2004 - The dolphin freezebranded
21 was seen mourning the loss of her new calf. Her mother also had a dead calf
this year.
Feb 2007 Two
dead dolphins have been found in the Mandurah area in recent weeks. On February
15 the Mandurah Water Rescue Group found a dead dolphin in the water just
offshore at Comet Bay
A second, bigger dead dolphin found in the shallows at Nairns. The second dolphin was old and had been deceased
for some time.
2007 Uboat (nicky)
had a calf in late April that died within days
************* break in records until 2009****************
26 January 2009 A dead 3.4m female
greys beaked whale washed up at Pyramids Beach south of Dawesville Cut.
31st January 2009 Blacky the dolphin with scoliosis seen in the Peel inlet.
6th February 2009 Blacky
resighted in Dawesville channel.
3rd February 2009 23 seen with a white growth
(fungus?) on his tail flukes
12th February 2009 badly sunburnt young dolphin seen
at the back of the Peel Inlet (later seen in april completely healed). Had been
extremely low tides 2-3 days before. Dorsal almost flat to her back.** (now named bent fin)***
2nd March 2009 Dead dolphin discovered by fisherman floating in
Peel Inlet
Early March 2009 Dead decomposed adult
dolphin washed up at South Yunderup.
19th March 2009 First sighting of newborn calf for
2009.
21st March 2009 Dolphin found stranded in very
shallow waters of Robert Bay. Was successfully lifted to deeper waters,
successful rescue well done!
21st March 2009 A mother
dolphin is sighted all this week mourning her dead newborn calf, carrying its
body on her snout, in Harvey estuary.
23rd March 2009 A second
dead newborn calf still with foetal folds found in shallows of creery islands. (this is a
different calf to the one above)
28th March 2009 Adult dolphin sighted with something
large and bright white on its back at Parkridge boat
ramp. No further sightings reported.
3 dolphins sighted under Lakes Rd bridge.
They must have successfully travelled back to peel inlet on high tide later
Newborn calf first seen on 19th March resighted in
peel inlet. At least one newborn calf alive.
3rd April 2009 Badly
sunburnt dolphin seen in canals and town waters.
5th April 2009 Sealion
sighted in the sticks channel heading into the Peel inlet
16th April 2009 Sea lion seen again in town waters
outside peninsula aptmts
17th April 2009 female dolphin freezebranded
22 is seen carrying dead calf on her snout in town waters.
17th April 2009 both sunburnt dolphins mentioned
above seen together in peel inlet both almost healed
Male dolphin freezebranded 23 now seen
alone, his male alliance seems to have broken up. O1 and old
01 freezebranded males now seen with freezebranded 14 & 15 males.
14th July 2009 A male 2-3 yr
old 1.7m bottlenose dolphin found stranded on the beach near Golden Bay was
successfully rescued and returned to deep waters, he was last seen swimming
strongly north.
2nd August 2009 – Thanks go out to the many
people who reported a calf in the Dawesville cut with a huge mass of fishing
line and seaweed tangled on its body and tail, making it very difficult for the
calf to swim.
We’re happy to report CALM immediately attended on Sunday
2th August and after a lengthy rescue effort was successful in removing the
huge mass that was tangled round the calf including fishing line and many
hooks.
Its fin is however very mangled from the fishing line cutting
across it and the top third is nearly off.
Well done to CALM for a huge effort and their success. We do ask
the public to continue to keep an eye on the calf and dolphins in general in
Mandurah. And PLEASE remove any rubbish you may see in/around our waters.
Fishing line, plastics, ropes etc in particular! (THIS DOLPHIN IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL years later - resighted
1ST June 2012 in the channel with many others. Has lost the top
third of its fin)
8th September
2009 -Dead Adult male dolphin found near Mandurah Quays. Was
missing all its front teeth so was quite old.
8th October 2009 -Badly decomposed young male dolphin
approx 6 ft found in shallows near Mandurah Quays.
9th November 2009 - A juvenile dolphin was rescued
from stranding in very shallow waters in cox bay. many thanks to everyone who assisted!
Weekend following the above stranding this rescued juvenile
dolphin was reseen twice, back swimming alongside
it’s mother (its mother is the dolphin with only half a fin “Uboat” )J
The rescued juvenile has some sunburn on its back and can also be
recognized by a nick out of the back of its dorsal fin about halfway down. A very successful rescue!
2010 NEWBORNS.
– As far as I know there was 4 new calves born and still alive by the end
of March amongst the main estuary/inlet dolphin pods. Of course there is
probably more born further afield in Harvey estuary and Dawesville ocean.
one calf was born late December 2009 one born
early January 2010, one born Feb 2010. One is reported to be born 3rd
march in mandjar bay!
Mothers
are dolphin with nick out of fin half way down, dolphin freezebranded 21, and one with no identifying marks on her
dorsal. Another with very large unusual shape dorsal may also be a mum.
We believe a 5th newborn is now in the inlet as of 17th
may 2010. On a sadder note the male
dolphin with freezebrand 23 has not been seen for a
long time. He would be in his older age possibly over 30yrs.
12th June 2010 - A dolphin is seen pushing her stillborn or dead newborn
calf near the Mandurah marina.
Dolphins mourn their dead and she is likely to stay with the body for several
days.
A smaller adult, she may be a first time mother and
unfortunately there is a high mortality rate in first calves especially.
A sighting of a possible newborn has been reported approx 14th
October keep your eye peeled! Also late October reports of a possible second
newborn.
30th October 2010 Dead mature 2.7m
dolphin found washed up dead on pyramids beach Dawesville.
3rd November 2010 – A juvenile dolphin was seen
struggling to swim and breathe in the shallows of Fairbridge
Bank. Unfortunately this extremely thin young male dolphin died. The body was
retrieved and has been sent for necropsy
2nd February 2011- There are now three calves in Mandurah
waters. Born October, December and January approx the last
one being only a few weeks old at the moment. No 2 has been named Sonic cos it is a speedy little dolphin
Thanks to the cruiseboats for this info! The
mums and calves are most often seen in the town waters including within mandjar bay so keep a look out for these cute youngsters
and their families.
3rd
February 2011- A young dolphin (approx 5ft) was rescued off a sandbar in Lake Geogrup today by the helicopter pilot and his crew member
who do the mosquito spraying. They saw the dolphin well and truly stranded in
the hot sun so landed their helicopter nearly and were able
to carry it to deeper water and saw it swim
off. Well done Guys!
8th February 2011 – possibility of a 4th
newborn now………….. and by march possibly 5 newborns
20th March 2011 – newborn female calf found
dead on melros beach sent to Murdoch for necropsy
1.1m long
April 2011 another newborn sighted in the peel inlet now
possibly up to 6 ( or more) in main estuary/peel inlet
waters
One of the dolphin calves appears to have a badly asymmetrical
jaw (top and bottom jaw doesn’t meet together as normally would, bottom
jaw appears to be protruding up at the end with the top jaw at an abnormal
angle over it)
June 2011 Another newborn sighted now up to 7 or so newborns this year
(2011)
6th July 2011 Sadly a mother
was seen carrying and pushing her dead newborn calf (calf still showed foetal
fold stripes) in the town estuary waters today
24th December 2011 – A female dolphin and next
day a newborn calf were found dead 100m south of Novara boat ramp. Necropsy
performed by Murdoch hospital
28th January 2012 first newborn sighted for the year
in shallows at cox bay.
19th February 2012 – 2nd newborn
sighted. Mother is Uboat (or Nicky as she is also
called) the dolphin who only has half a dorsal fin. Her calf has been named
giggles (thanks Bouvard Cruises for the info)
25th
February 2012 dolphin seen carrying dead fetus on her
snout in the peel inlet.
In same area were Uboat and her newborn and
another mother and newborn (first seen 28th Jan.) both newborns
looking good
End
of February/1st week of March 2012 Third newborn seen. 22 is the
mother. She has had many calves including one stillborn
15th March 2012 - A dead
adult dolphin was reported by several people (thankyou) seen floating in the
Harvey Estuary between Parkridge and the Dawesville Cut. It washed up off
Estuary Road Thanks to those who attended.
7th
April .2012 Fourth newborn sighted Easter Saturday mum has white sunburn scars
both sides of dorsal
10th
April 2012 dolphin with scoliosis sighted in the inlet quite possibly Blacky!
21st
April 2012 New newborn calf seen in the inlet ( now at
least 5 live calves this year) mum has distinctive rectangular notch out of her
dorsal
3rd
May 2012 – A mother and calf pair of spotted dolphins stranded along
seascapes beach. Both unfortunately died. Bodies taken to perth zoo for necropsy. The mother was found to be
very sick and would not have survived, she also was not
producing milk for her calf.
Thanks
to those that attended, especially for bringing the calf and mother to be
together for their final moments. Findings were that they probably died both
from starvation.
30th May 2012 Mandurah cruise staff saw
the large male dolphin freezebranded 01 with wounds
from an attempted shark bite – wounds from the teeth on its side
and larger wound underneath its body today. Despite these wounds 01 was seen
swimming fine with nicky and others in the canals.
Dolphins have remarkable abilities to heal.
Many thanks to Mandurah cruises for the information
and Hayley for the photos. Dolphins in other areas have survived larger shark
bites (eg many at shark bay bear scars). He is very
large older male.so pretty tough!
01 has been seen feeding in the inlet with other
dolphins, recovering
15th June 2012 Mandurah cruises see a
possible new baby in town waters ( 6at least)
13th July 2012 01 seems healed after the
attempted shark bite – looking good and swimming with his male alliance buddies
13th July 2012 – another smaller dolphin seen with teeth wounds from an attempted shark bite.
This dolphin should heal just as 01 did. This dolphin has been seen several
times since playing and fishing.
16th August 2012 A new baby calf seen in
inlet (now 7 at least) very late to be born this year
20th August 2012 Dead
male dolphin 2.6m found in Harvey estuary shallows near meelup
point. Half its top teeth were completely worn flat and others missing
indicating it was quite old.
8th October 2012. Old oceangoing male
dolphin found dead by professional fisherman in the Harvey Estuary, south of
the cut (had shark bite wounds, suspected bitten in ocean later died in
estuary).
That dolphin has been seen previously swimming out to the ocean via the
cut.
10th October 2012 Mandurah cruises
report a dolphin seen in town waters with severe sunburn across its back (from
stranding). I believe it may be Uboats/Nickys 2nd last calf called christmas
26th October they report it is doing
well still shows burns but they seem to be healing. Later in the year this dolphin is seen
again several times healing very well. (seen
completely healed with very little scarring March 2013)
20th October 2012 – dead female
dolphin 2.2m long found washed up in shallows approx halfway down Harvey
estuary birchmont area. Many thanks to murray shire ranger who attended!
11th November 2012 small calf seen
stranded up at Lake Geogrup managed to get itself off
safely
13th November 2012 Blacky
(with curvature of the spine) sighted in town waters by
Mandurah cruises
20th December 2012 Blacky
definitely seen in the inlet! Swimming quite strongly across
distance towards a pod of dolphins.
24th December 2012 Blacky
(dolphin born with twisted spine (scoliosis) seen again in the peel inlet.
25th December 2012 Severely
sunburnt dolphin seen in the inlet must have stranded in hot sun and not been
seen by anyone…dolphins do possess amazing healing abilities so should
survive (seen healed 19th March!)
This dolphin was kept under monitoring as much as
possible and has been seen several times swimming well and actively feeding
with others (see 19th march below)
24th Dec- 31st Dec 2012 Blacky now moving very slowly (during extreme heatwave). As much as
possible its movements were monitored & kept safe from main boat traffic
when possible. Wildlife officers and vet attended.
Blacky not seen after last sighting on 31st unfortunately despite searching. Reported deceased at Heron Point on the
2nd. RIP. Measured 2.43m and confirmed
as male. Body taken to Perth zoo.
Late January 2013 unusual breathing dolphin seen in
ocean
28th January 2013 A new calf seen
swimming with mum by Mandurah cruises in town
5th February 2013 A
Newborn seen near Falcon. Mother has a distinctive shaped high dorsal with a
nick out of the lower end of it
6th February 2013 A
wayward dolphin got itself stuck in a shallow narrow channel in Mariners Cove.
During the rescue it made a quick dash to safety of higher water itself. It was
seen to leap into the air twice after getting out into the main channel and
then swim off strongly. Many thanks for the two men who reported it and helped
with the dolphin!
7th February 2013 Mandurah cruises are
reporting sightings of two newborns this year so far
11th February 2013 *Severely* sunburnt
mother with less sunburnt large calf sighted near point grey (
and also Harvey estuary days before) mum is VERY badly burnt L. (see 16th April 2013 below)
18th March 2013 One 2013 calf seen with
thick weed/ fishing line hanging out of the corner of its mouth left side ( cox bay)
19th March 2013 FOUR newborn calves
seen with their mums all together in Harvey Estuary today! One very tiny one! and one a few months older than the other 3. All still with
foetal stripes
19th March 2013 One of the mums this
year is the female freezebranded 21
! She had her last calf in
2010.
19th March 2013 Dolphin seen very badly
sunburnt late Dec 2012 seen today completed healed with a long *wide* white
scar under its dorsal right side
9th April 2013 5th
newborn seen in Harvey Estuary. All mums and babies are hanging out
together for protection
(note- As cruise boats are seeing 2 larger calves
in town waters, its
possible there are 7 or more 2013 alive calves)
10th April 2013 Dead newborn reported in the
Serpentine River near entrance to Lake Goegrup
16th April 2013 The calf that was
sunburnt on 11th February seen alive and well with small amount of
white scarring on back, in Harvey estuary. Mum unknown at this stage..
Please everyone keep an eye out for stranded
dolphins in the shallows during low tides!!
Our MANY thanks to
Doug Coughran of DEC for providing much of the early dated information
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