July 8, 2023 – Two dolphins have stayed near Rab and in the Gulf of Rijeka for the last few weeks. The two Croatian dolphins have caught the attention of many due to their playful nature and absence of fear of humans and vessels.
According to the experts, reports Turističke Priče, it is solitary dolphins who behave in this unusual way. They stay near the coast and along the beaches, allow people to approach them or approach people themselves, follow boats, etc. Their appearance has caused a lot of public attention, especially in the last week, considering an increasing number of swimmers and vessels at sea.
“Since the first reports, we have gone to the field several times, photographed and filmed both dolphins, assessed their general condition, and gathered information from the local population about their behaviour and people’s behavior towards the dolphins. In both cases, the individuals are short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), a species that was considered regionally extinct in the Adriatic Sea since the late 1970s but has been observed again in the past few years. Although common dolphins are a social species that lives in groups of several tens or hundreds of individuals, the dolphins near Rab and Rijeka are solitary common dolphins“, the Blue World Institute announced on its website.
The two Croatian dolphins do not have significant injuries on their bodies, but only superficial skin scratches. The dolphin near Rab also has long-healed injuries on its tail. Therefore, there is no need to worry about their health, they point out.
Avoiding an Unwanted Situation with the Croatian Dolphins
“We appeal to everyone in the vicinity not to approach or swim with the dolphin, touch it, or feed it, as it can lead to the animal becoming accustomed to humans, which can have undesirable consequences. In addition to possible aggressive behaviour, there are other dangers in close interactions between solitary dolphins and humans. Dolphins can transmit numerous serious and difficult-to-cure diseases – zoonoses – such as tuberculosis, leptospirosis, etc. Similarly, during close interactions, humans can transmit diseases to the dolphin population, which can cause the death of many animals. Therefore, swimming with them, especially touching them, should definitely be avoided. Also, considering that solitary dolphins lose their natural fear of vessels, they can suffer severe injuries from collisions with boat propellers and die”, the Institute warns.
Dolphins are strictly protected animals, and disturbing them is prohibited- attempting to feed, swim, touch, or chase them. To ensure the well-being and safety of both humans and these two Croatian dolphins:
- do not try to feed the dolphins
- do not approach or try to touch or swim with them
- provide them with enough space for unhindered movement, and do not chase them
The Institute urges everyone to help preserve marine life by reporting any sightings of marine mammals through the Marine Ranger app.
“Depending on whether you are reporting your observation or want to report harassment, chasing, or the discovery of an injured or entangled animal, the application, based on your location, will offer you the option to contact the relevant authorities (112) and expert organizations (such as the Blue World Institute)”, they state.
