DOLPHIN INTERACTION AREA

This is the area on the beach where the dolphins are fed. The meals take place under the responsibility of the volunteers of the center, three times between 7:45 am and 12:00 pm, if the dolphins do not leave before the end of the time slot! Seven to eight dolphins regularly visit the beach. The volunteers choose 6 people from the public to come and feed the dolphins. It is therefore advisable to arrive early if you want to be sure to be in the front line.

These are bottlenose dolphins, which have always frequented the waters of Shark Bay. They began to have contact with humans in the early 1960s. At that time, they would follow fishing boats back to port and catch the fish that the fishermen threw out. In 1964, Ninnie Watts, a fisherman's wife, began feeding the dolphins daily. With a little perseverance, she got a dolphin used to taking the fish in her hand and named him Charlie, not knowing if it was a male or a female. Since 1990, with the creation of the Monkey Mia Marine Park, rangers have been hired to protect these semi-tame dolphins and give advice to the tourists who come in increasing numbers to see them. About twenty dolphins have been listed, and some of them come near the beach. Nevertheless, measures have been taken to avoid that they become totally dependent on these meals. Therefore, they only receive about 2 kg each, a third of their daily ration.