Dolphins can die from extreme sunburn and dehydration when stranded in low tide, if you live in Mandurah we need your help

A mother and calf days after being rescued from a stranding. Copyright S.Kirby

Our local dolphins are at risk from stranding in low tide in many areas of the estuary system particularly in summer. In the past there have been a number of rescues required and unfortunately at least two dolphins have died from severe burns. Many others have suffered. Lake Goegrup is a particularly hazardous area. The dolphins are drawn here due to the lure of feed, entering on high tide. Once in the lake they often get stuck by low tide, making it impossible for them to escape over the entrance’s sand bar. Most of the strandings have occurred in this area. Sometimes they are stuck for days on end in very shallow water. Their skin gets incredibly burnt and dehydrated by the sun, and the high water temperature also makes it a life threatening situation, if they are unable to simply swim back over the bar to deeper cooler waters again. As it is so isolated from the road, it is essential that the locals living around the lake in particular keep a check on the area. We are very grateful for their concern and rapid responses to strandings in the past, which has saved a number of dolphins.

However, there are many other areas that are risky for the dolphins, such as Soldiers Cove area, the estuary shallows off Falcon,the Murray River shallows, the shallows of Harvey Estuary etc. Our local waters are so vast, we need as many eyes keeping a lookout as we can get. Recently a mother and calf were found stranded in the shallows near Coopers Mill, but were successfully rescued to deeper safer waters, well done to those involved.

We have begun a volunteer group to generally keep a lookout for dolphins who appear to be in distress, sick, or stranded, so a quick and efficient local rescue service can be in place.

In our area CALM has the responsibility for conserving the wildlife of Western Australia, and CALM wildlife officers have developed considerable expertise and a high success rate when dealing with strandings.They should be your first point of contact should you spot a dolphin in trouble, or the local shire rangers. Please contact the Calm Wildlife Protection Unit on (089) 334 0292 or after hours on (089) 334 0224. The Swan Regional Marine Operations Unit for CALM may be contacted on (089) 432 5111 or on 24 hr. pager on (089) 483 6462. We would also please ask you to contact us on the following number/s. We keep a central register of volunteers numbers so those available to assist in rescues or strandings can do so.

Please contact your local Dolphin Watch if you see a dolphin in trouble

9 535 3388 or 0407 090 284

Dolphins can suffer severe burns in a stranding. Copyright S.Kirby

We also plan to educate the public into not attempting to feed the dolphins (thankfully this doesn’t appear to be a problem here) as this can very easily lead to the a dolphin’s death. In Rockingham a local dolphin nicknamed Touch was regularly fed by fishermen which led to it becoming a scavenger. After it tried to take dead fish off a fishing line, it ingested a whole line of fish hooks, leading to a very painful death. Our dolphins have no need for dead fish and we hope this never changes.

Further aims are to raise the public's knowledge and understanding of our local dolphins and also to clean up our local waters. Dolphins can die by swallowing cigarette butts, plastic bags or starve to death by having their rostrums (snouts) caught in plastic beer rings, so we ask everyone to help with picking up any rubbish they see and educate any one you see littering.

Our current project is raising enough money to have signs placed at all major boat ramps advising people of correct behaviours around the wild dolphins.

If you live in Mandurah and wish to help in protecting our local dolphins please email us here

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