There aren’t many cities in the world lucky enough to have wild dolphins living in them. Port River dolphins are precious. And tourists love them.
Who wouldn’t? They’re intelligent, playful, friendly and seem to share a special connection with humans. But we need to look after them if they are going to stick around.
In 2014, Renewal SA and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield teamed up to fund a 12-month study to look at the Port River dolphins’ population and behaviour as well as their habitat which is vital for their health and well-being.
Dr. Mike Bossley, Science and Education Manager at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), who headed up the study said, “The Port River estuary is important for the dolphins because it has abundant fish, few predators and it is protected from rough weather. However, the estuary also has numerous hazards the dolphins must deal with including pollution, entanglements, noise and deliberate attacks.”
How you can help look after our dolphins
- Remember, dolphins are wild and unpredictable!
- Stay at least 50m away and don’t feed them.
- If you’re in a boat, keep an eye out for dolphins and make sure you stick to the speed limits (4 knots under bridges and 7 knots elsewhere).
- If dolphins approach, slow down and wait for them to pass.
- When fishing, please pull your lines in when dolphins are around, wait until they have left before you cast again. We don’t want any tangled or hooked dolphins.
- A healthy river means healthy dolphins. Dispose of your discarded lines and bait bags appropriately.
- If you see any pollution or bad behaviour, or a dolphin in distress, please report it to the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary on 08 8240 0193.
So you want to go dolphin-spotting?
There are lots of opportunities to see dolphins at Port Adelaide and you don’t have to get into the water to see them. Around 30 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins regularly hang out here and up to 300 other species have been known to visit.
Here are a few places you can try, and don’t forget your camera.
Dolphin Explorer Cruises
Address: Berth 2, Queens Wharf, Port Adelaide
Phone: 08 8447 2366
Website: www.dolphinexplorer.com.au
Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours
Address: Lot 204 Garden Island Road, Port Adelaide
Phone: 0419 022 354
Website: dolphinsanctuarykayaktours.com.au
Facebook: @dolphinsanctuarykayaktours
Adventure Kayaking SA
Address: Boat Ramp, Garden Island
Phone: 08 8295 8812 / 0429 019 141
Website: www.adventurekayak.com.au