Ashort list of where to see dolphins in the wild

A wild dolphin jumps for joy

Its possible to view dolphins in the wild all around the world. Here are a just a few examples.
Western Australia: Mandurah , Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef, Rockingham, Bunbury, Esperance
Eastern Australia: Moreton Bay, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Port Phillip Bay, Jervis Bay, Port Stephens, Forster
New Zealand: Kaikoura, Whakatane, Bay of Islands, Malborough Sound, Coromandel Peninsula, Akaora
Moorea, Tahiti
Lanai, Hawaii
USA- Key West,Florida, Panama City Beach, Galveston Texas, Channel Islands, Monterey, in the waters off New Jersey, Oceanside California,Delaware Bay & Carolina
In the waters off mexico
Dingle Bay, or the Shannon Estuary, Ireland
Moray Firth, Scotland
Cardigan Bay, Wales, Durlston, and Cornwall England
Gibraltor
Bahamas (white sand ridge)
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Turks and Caicos, West Indies
Azores Islands (eg off Faial and also Pico)
São Miguel Island Futurismo Azores Whale Watching
In the waters off hua-lien ,the east coast of taiwan.
In the waters off South Africa
In the Black Sea off the coast of Georgia and Crimea peninsula.
In the Red Sea Eygpt Wild and Free

If you are lucky enough to see dolphins in the wild please remember these simple rules:

* Do not harass the dolphins-give them space.
They are very powerful animals and are not there for your amusement.

* Never attempt to feed a wild dolphin.
It is illegal and could easily result in the dolphins death through incorrect food or bacteria in the fish.

* Do not throw rubbish in the ocean or on the beach, and please clean up any that you see.
Many dolphins die from swallowing foreign objects.

* Many dolphins are injured by boat motors.
Make sure the boat you are in drives carefully near dolphins

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The amazing Fungie - A friendly wild dolphin

There have been a number of special wild solitary dolphins around the world that have bridged the gap between human and dolphin and allowed regular contact.
Unfortunately many of these situations have ended badly for the dolphin, which is a sad reflection on our species.
Fungie is a special story, which still continues today.
He is a fully grown male bottlenose dolphin (all one-quarter tonne, and 13 feet of him!)who lives in Dingle Bay, Ireland. The first recorded sighting of fungie was in 1984 and he has remained in the same bay ever since, almost every day. Fungie is a solitary dolphin who seems to enjoy human company.

He is a major tourist attraction and thousands of people have visited him, many swimming with him by simply swimming out from the shore. Fungie only permits those he trusts to touch him, but he does initiate many games particularly with boats. He has been known to completely jump over small boats, or surprise the people inside by bobbing up on either side, or drenching them with water from a large jump. He may play tricks on those who swim with him as well by approaching them from behind, nudging them on the shoulder and surprising them. If ignored, he may tug on a divers flippers. He has also been known to gently peck at face masks to gain swimmers attention. Fungie has been seen "playing" with surprised birds, swimming up underneath one and flipping it into the air,then rushing over to the spot where it will land, to begin again.

He loves to play with paddles and many a kayaker has spent hours playing with Fungie. He also seems to adore to escort boats to and from the bay, and has some special favourites.People from all over Ireland and the world go to Dingle to see him, and so he is constantly surrounded with visitors, and boats. However, he is still in the same bay and has not chosen to disappear yet, even after all these years since his arrival in 1984.

Many thanks to International Dolphin Watch for the great pics of Fungie above. Copyright IDW.

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More wild solitary dolphins and their human friend

Dr. Horace Dobbs has written many books regarding many of the wild solitary dolphins around the world. After first meeting such a dolphin named Donald, who after some time was so trusting of Horace that he would give his young son free rides & tows, Horace has devoted his life to dolphins. Originally in full-time medical research, he gave it all up to work to protect and increase the public's awareness of wild dolphins, and now his life has gone full circle as he investigates the joy they bring into people's lives. His first book, "Follow a wild dolphin" in 1977 was all about Donald, and since then he has written other books about his meetings and close encounters with many other wild solitary dolphins such as Percy & Freddie in UK, Simo in Wales, Jean-Louis in France , Jo-Jo in Turks, and of course Fungie. If you are interested in reading true accounts about these wild dolphins, I highly recommend you read any of Horace's books, you wont regret it. His books include "Tale of Two dolphins" (about Percy), "Dance to a Dolphin's Song" (about Simo and Fungie),and "Journey into Dolphin Dreamtime" (about Freddie and Jo Jo).Ask at your bookshop, local library, or from Horace's home page link on page 4.

International Dolphin Watch and The Virtual Dolphin Project

International Dolphin Watch headed by Dr. Horace Dobbs is a non profit organisation for the study and conservation of dolphins. By becoming a member you receive regular newsletters full of news of wild dolphins around the world, places to see dolphins and tours, updates on ongoing campaigns against poor captive situations, updates on their other dolphin projects, penpals, and the chance to participate at what level you wish in the joy of dolphins with others from around the world. You can join IDW online by following the link on page 4.

The Virtual Dolphin Project is a non-profit corporation 501(c)3 (application pending) who's team is dedicated to exploring the uplifting experience of cetaceans as a whole and to finding new and creative ways of bringing this joy to ill or disabled children who cannot have the opportunity to experience dolphins in the wild. They seek to do this by replicating the experience using modern technology. Captive dolphins are never used. The work they are doing is bringing joy into the hearts of very sick children and you may wish to offer your support by following the link on page 4. They also have a Podmates mailing list you are very welcome to join, to meet new friends and share information.

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To Page 3 and 4: A history, pictures and stories of the famous wild solitary dolphins around the world

In a hurry and can't access all four pages now? You can sign my guestbook here before you leave

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Copyright Details

Copyright (C) S.K 2000. You may download my own dolphin photos for your own desktop,print them out to view,or use them in school projects. Sorry,you may NOT use them or any IDW photos commercially, or on another web page.