Bay conditions just perfect for dolphins

The dolphin breeding season is now in full swing with the drop in wind and increase in water temperature combining to provide ideal conditions for the dolphins’ summer of love.

Not only is there a lot more dolphins in Koombana Bay, but they are a lot more active with a number of male alliance groups now competing for regional domination and inevitably, to secure the interests of the ladies.

I am also excited to announce that two new babies were sighted within Koombana Bay last week.

Although we are still unsure who one of the new mums is, the babies appeared to be in good condition as they swam within the protection of their maternal group.

The fact that we haven’t seen them since, suggests they are both visiting females from nearby populations using the protection of the bay for the birth of their babies.

Our research programs have been collecting data on dolphins for more than 20 years and the evidence clearly identifies Koombana Bay as a maternal breeding ground. It is also potentially a habitat that plays a crucial role in the long-term sustainability of the region’s bottlenose dolphin population.

The only other calf to have been confirmed this season was the birth of Shanty’s baby way back in November.

Shanty is a long-time resident of Koombana Bay and has been a much-loved visitor to the Interaction Zone at the Dolphin Discovery Centre since 1998.

She is also considered to be one of the oldest female dolphins living in the area with latest estimates suggesting she is at least 45 years-old.

Unfortunately, she has not had a lot of success raising new babies over the past 15 years, so it was an incredible surprise to observe Shanty with her baby soon after giving birth right in front of the DDC.

Not only was it the first time a dolphin calf had been observed and photographed within an hour of birth in Bunbury, but possibly one of the few times it has ever been recorded outside of an aquarium or captive environment anywhere in the world.

It was equally exciting to know Shanty was still capable of having a baby knowing she was well into her 40s and hadn’t shown any real enthusiasm for motherhood over the past few years.

Unfortunately, our concerns for the calf’s wellbeing were realised 48 hours later when our research team found Shanty near the Inner Harbour pushing her lifeless baby’s body through the water.

Considered to be an act of mourning, many of our females who have lost their new born calves in the past have carried their dead babies for up to five days before accepting their loss and releasing them into the ocean.

Incredibly, Shanty appeared to accept her loss almost immediately, releasing her calf within a few days and then returning to her female groups where she continues to play the vital role of matriarch and mentor for her friends and family.

It was also no surprise to see the visiting male alliances within the population also spend plenty of time with her in anticipation of a new ovulation cycle.

It might surprise you to know that female dolphins who lose their babies will often fall pregnant again soon after so we can only hope that Shanty will once again defy the odds stacked against her and enjoy the success of motherhood in 12 months time.

We now expect the breeding season to continue right through until the end of March with up to 10 additional calves appearing in our local waters.

For those who spend time out on the water and see a new calf, please remember to give them as much space as possible so that any unnecessary stress to them and their mums can be avoided.

Logging any sightings of dolphins with new calves on the DDC’s Dolphin Watch App would also be helpful for our research team.

You can download either the Android or iPhone smartphone App for free by going to your iTunes or Google Store.