Mandurah Dolphin ID Pics

Introducing the Mandurah Dolphins

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An informal identification study of the Mandurah dolphins has began in order to determine the local dolphin population.

Please note: All images on the Mandurah Dolphin pages are copyright © S.Kirby 1997.These images may NOT be used on another web page or for any commercial use.You may download these images for your own desktop or print them out to view, however any other use of any kind is not allowed without the prior written permission of S.Kirby.

Uboat or Nicky as she is also called is a very easily recognisable friendly dolphin. It is thought her dorsal fin was gradually cut through by fishing line years ago. She had a calf now old enough to leave her side. This calf was first seen by us on 30 May 1998, and is called Josh (sex not known). In late December 2003 she had another calf who is named Christmas after being born very near to that day.

Number 21 is a female rescued from stranding whilst she was a calf on 13.3.97. At that time she was still with her mother number 22. In this rescue their numbers were freezebranded on their dorsal fins. 21 is a particular favourite of Dolphin Encounters. On approx 17 or 18th May 2004 she had her first calf, which sadly died soon after.

Number 22 is the mother of 21. She has since had three more calves Fallon born April 1998, Filo autumn 2001 and sadly her last calf was stillborn or died shortly after birth in Autumn 2004. 22 was rescued from stranding on 13.3.97

Fallon in 1999. This calf has now left its mother's side.

Split Fin has a very badly mangled dorsal fin probably from a boat propeller. First seen 1997 and always in the ocean. Has never been seen by us in the peel inlet/estuary.

This is Sunshine. Sunshine must have been stranded in low tide and eventually many hours later managed to free herself when the tide eventually rose. She suffered severe burns to her side, which although have healed still leave recognisable white marks on her left side. On the 16th April 1997 we saw her with a new calf Sunbeam. Since then in autumn 2001 she gave birth to Surprise and now has a new calf born autumn 2004!

Freezebrand 17 is one of the dominant males here, always seen with 23 and 01, other males. They have formed a male allience we call "The Boys" and seem to run the show around here. They all have got themselves stranded several times over the years and been rescued over and over.

On 9 December 1996 we saw a dolphin with very large plate sized wounds on both sides of its dorsal fin. These burns would have been from the sun whilst stranded in low tide. Scars now bears white scar tissue of these burns, making her very easy to identify. She is often seen hanging around with newborns. Sadly her calf Scarlett disappeared in 2003 :-( .

Number 23 is a very large and mature male. In 1990 he stranded along with many other males. He seems to be a very dominant male in this area, maybe the boss! He is possibly the father to many calves.

Sally Kirby

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