it was in deeper water, the dolphin gently undulated its been playing with their boat, and they were heading straight started to haul them in, then body until it was free of the sling. But, to the consternation towards us! True to form, within a few minutes the dolphins the net became snagged, a of rescuers, the dolphin swam back to the shallow water, had well and truly arrived! 100 metres away. stranding itself again. The fins of six large adult So down to my “jocks” and As the rescuers returned the dolphin to the sling, the animal dolphins sliced through the swim to the snag, a tree 1.5 continued its plaintive calls. With the help of a rescue craft, water and straight to the port- metres under the water. Diving the dolphin was gently taken to deeper water and released. side of our boat. At first they to free the net I looked up and Slowly at first and then with increasing vigour the dolphin were an extremely placid pod there was a mother dolphin Inlet & Harvey Estuary swam away, hopefully to rejoin its pod. A successful dolphin and floated on the surface shaking her head as if to say “ it’s freezing, what the heck rescue - and a very special and moving experience for all very close to the boat - much are you doing here” her baby just kept staring seemingly involved. to the delight of our camera- amazed Courtesy of WA Seabird Rescue (Inc.) snapping passengers! They floated around for over ten Finally net off, with dolphins following I swam back to the Inquiries: 0418 952 683 (24 hrs) minutes; some on the surface, some just below it and one boat, climbed in pulled only my shorts on and thought I’m not cold, I’ll keep fishing. My dolphin mates just kept looking Dolphin rides, with “gang of five” crazy bottlenose decided to spend the entire time upside down, proudly showing his at me as though I had lost the plot. They were right, severe Dolphins are great fun. They love to go under your kayak, gorgeous white belly. exposure (Hypothermia) was setting in, so I roared home Dolphin Tales look up at you, and jump out of the water doing tricks and The dolphins looked so had a shower then wrapped up in lots of dry clothing and play with paddlers. relaxed that it almost sent the went to bed. Courtesy of Professional Fisherman, Bruce Tatham One Saturday morning, in passengers to sleep as well - & Trails October 2010, the “gang of Inquiries: phone 9537 6319 so our skipper Jonno decided five” were on a he needed to liven the mood Over 55’s Canoe Club a bit. The Mandurah dolphins paddle near Boodalin Island are renowned as being a playful bunch and there is nothing and met a pod of about that they love more than surfing the waves our boat creates eleven dolphins. The dolphins - and they are pretty talented acrobats (or would they be decided that “the five” should aquabats?). The throttle went down and within seconds the be taken for a “dolphin ride” fun had begun... not only one paddler at a time, but often two at a time. The rides were fast and furious, above the cries of joy and If you couldn’t already tell from the expression on these laughter, there was a cry of “I’ve lost control of my boat!”. This pamphlet was compiled and paid for by the Canoe Trail This went on for about half an hour. While some lucky dolphin’s faces - they were Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc. a non-profit organisation run individual paddlers have enjoyed similar “ride” experiences, having a whale of a time!!! by volunteers who advocate awareness of and care for the natural we aren’t aware of a whole group being chosen to interact They were only two metres environment of the Peel Estuary. like this! from the boat and were trying Other free publications are seven Canoe Guides and three Guide Courtesy of Mandurah Over 55’s Canoe Club their hardest to splash every Companions that promote the use of recreational canoe trails on Inquiries: [email protected] single person on board... and local waterways, and a land based Birdwatching Trail Guide for they had a good aim! They Water & Shorebirds. Mandurah’s leaping dolphins surfed and leapt around with us for another ten minutes The Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc. does not The sun was shining, the water was glistening and the before they decided it was time to go. The passengers accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, injury or death, damage, liability, cost or expenses that may be suffered, sustained dolphins were leaping, it was and crew watched on until their dorsal fins faded onto the horizon. or incurred by any person relying on any aspect of this pamphlet or the ‘perfect day’ to cruise the making use of any trail named or described herin Mandurah Estuary! Just as Courtesy of Mandurah Cruises & Gift Shop Inquires: Mandurah Cruises website. mandurahcruises.com.au Inquiries: the Super Cat was cruising Send a stamped self – addressed envelope to: PO Box 3188 through Mandjar Bay our Mandurah East, WA 6210, or visit sister ship, the Dancing It was a bitter arctic July about seven years ago I had shirt, http://canoetrailfriendsmandurahpinjarra.blogspot.com Dolphin, radioed through jumper, shorts, long pants, beanie and waders on. From © Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc. that a pod of six dolphins had my boat I saw a good catch of whiting, ran the net out and Printed March 2012

Introduction & Harvey Estuary has Snapshot of local dolphin history December 2011: A female Bottlenose dolphins declined over recent years. August 2009: Thanks to the dolphin and her newborn (Tursiops truncatus) are This decline is certain to many people who reported a calf were found dead on common along much of progress, with development calf in the subsequent days 100 metres ’s coastline taking place at an increasing with a huge mass of fishing south of Novara boat ramp. and are frequently seen in rate and rainfall levels line and seaweed tangled on January 2012: First newborn our rivers and estuaries. declining. Responsibility its body and tail, making it very for the year was sighted in the for developing and Unlike some other dolphin difficult for the calf to swim. Before... shallows at Cox Bay. species, the Bottlenose dolphin population tends to form implementing appropriate We are happy to report that Courtesy of Sally Kirby (Volunteer Dolphin Rescuer) smaller subgroups or pods that inhabit a specific home strategies to address these threats rests with government the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Inquiries: southwest.com.au/~kirbyhs/dolhistory area. Although group members can change from time to at all levels and, urgent action is required. attended and after a lengthy rescue were successful in time, within the group, members assist each other with As individuals we also have a contribution to make to removing the huge mass that was tangled around the calf, One of Mandurah Ocean Club’s most memorable paddling activities such as herding fish and rearing calves. the safety and health of the dolphins which frequent including the fishing line and many hooks. Well done to DEC experiences happened on an Easter Monday afternoon a few our waterways. To avoid injury to dolphins, boat owners for a huge effort and their success. years ago. A group of paddlers The Bottlenose dolphin varies on one man outrigger canoes should avoid travelling at excessive speed and slow down June 2010: A dolphin is in size from two to four metres were surfing the waves off for dolphins in the narrow and shallow boat channels. seen pushing her stillborn or and may live for up to 30 Seashells Resort just before Power boats and jet skis dead born calf near the years. Females generally sunset when a pod of very closely following or in other Mandurah Ocean Marina. reproduce from about six playful dolphins turned up and ways harassing dolphins can Dolphins mourn their dead years of age, calving every decided to join in the fun. two to three years. Calves cause stress, which can also and she is likely to stay with After ! For the next half an hour there suckle for up to 18 months. threaten the health of the the body for several days. A animals. smaller adult, she may be a were canoes and dolphins For residents and visitors alike, the prevailing images surfing and sharing wave after wave, at one point there were Under no circumstances first time mother and unfortunately there is a high mortality of Mandurah are its beautiful estuary, its waterbirds and 5 canoes and about 6 dolphins all on the one wave! It’s an should dolphins be fed. The rate with first calves. its iconic dolphins. Although we have come to take for amazing experience to have dolphins trying to get as close waterways should be kept free of all litter, but particularly January 2011: granted the presence of these majestic animals in our Adding to the dolphin population, during the to the nose of your canoe as they can and rolling onto their waterways, the reality is that we know very little about plastics. River and estuary friendly fishing practices summer of 2010-2011, three new baby dolphin calves were backs right underneath you their behaviour, their health should be followed: trawling should be avoided, bait bags active in the waterways of Mandurah, one of them so much when you are surfing on a or their prospects for long- and other plastics taken home and broken or tangled so, it has been nick-named wave. An even more amazing term survival in the waters fishing lines and nets removed. If you see a sick, stranded Sonic. Thanks to the cruise- experience is to be surfing on of the Peel Inlet-Harvey or entangled dolphin: boats for this info! a wave in one of the club’s Estuary. • call the Wildcare Helpline (08) 9474 9055 A young dolphin approximately 40 foot six person outrigger (24 hours, 7 days a week), 1.5m was rescued off a canoes with the dolphins We do know that the sandbar in Geogrup Lake leaping over head height and members of the Mandurah • keep noise to a minimum and keep dogs away, by the helicopter pilot and dolphin population primarily • keep the animal’s skin surfing right next to you! his crew member who do Courtesy of Mandurah Ocean Club come into the estuary to feed and to find sanctuary and moist with water, if the mosquito spraying. They saw the dolphin well and truly Inquiries: www.mandurahoceanclub.com.au protection for their newborn and young from sharks possible, taking care not stranded in the hot sun, so they landed their helicopter and other open-ocean threats. But our waterways are to get water inside the nearby and were able to carry it to deeper water and saw it The dolphins often swim with the Mandurah Dragon Boat under increasing stress: population growth, housing blowhole, swim off. Well done Guys! Club during their training sessions in the Mandurah estuary development, urban drainage, contaminants, recreational • do not touch the animal April 2011: and canals, especially in the use, tourism, and agricultural Another newborn more than necessary, winter when the waterways practices all affect our has been sighted — possibly • do not attempt to push the are a little quieter. The estuary and its dolphin up to 6 (or more) in Main animal back into the water, dolphins very seldom miss a population. Estuary/Peel Inlet waters training session. They seem • do not apply sunscreen, even if the animal’s June 2011: Another newborn to enjoy the splashing of the There is significant evidence skin is burnt. sighted. Possibly 7 or so paddles and jump up in front that the environmental Technical advice courtesy of Marine Biologist Dr Nuray Veryeri newborns, so far this year. quality of the Peel Inlet of the boat. On one occasion a dolphin family picked us up at the Old

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r d t t aad r Mandurah u e o d e R t n s In December 2009, the YAHOO Over 55’s Bushwalking a ees k Pinnjjarrra M a a Rooaad L 1. Mandurah Ocean Channel Walking Club negotiating deeper channels at low tide, L e ssl li Pinja waded from Island Point to Herron Point and return. On e rra (a) Fishing/Viewing Platform at S R Black t o re ad the way back when in waist deep water on the northern Indian Ocean e LakeLake channel entrance 5 t side of Brunswick Island a access Breakwater Pde. plane was heard above and Mandurah someone called out it’s the Mandurah 8 (b) Western Foreshore (foreshore Quays Se rpe “shark spotter plane”, no nt Barragup walks) access from Leighton Pl. Coodenup ine Len Howard Creery Island R Swamp Reserve sooner was that said then Reserve iv (kiosk) or Fairbridge Rd. Halls Conservation Park e a dolphin surfaced right in r Head 7 7b front of us causing panic and ad o Cooleenup R 7a t 2. Mandjar Bay (foreshore walks aass Island screams. With part of the o ver C Ri urray ld M with café, restaurants and group 100 metres ahead they O 9 takeaways) heard the screams and it wasn’t until they heard laughter Batavia South that they realised it was a dolphin. The interaction from the Quay Yunderup (a) Eastern Foreshore access M dolphin was an incredible experience as it swam around and Foreshore urray River from carparks Mandurah Tce.

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down on the spot. W Mealup e 6. Dawesville Channel (viewing s t e r As they drifted closer towards us we are sure that they had n from platforms and pathways) H ig h a very young calf between them and we concluded that they w (a) Eastern side access from Rees a were assisting or teaching it to submerge and surface to y Pl Wannanup (public carpark breathe this was mainly supposition on our part regarding near café) their behaviour, but it sure was something different. We kept Indian Ocean (b) Western side access from our distance and they just slowly continued on their way. Lake Mandurah1a Southport Bvd. Dawesville Ocean Courtesy of Mandurah-Murray Vietnam Veterans Canoeing Group ce McLarty Channel a (carpark near Port Bouvard

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L e 8 Serpentine River (reserve & wanted to play just like us. O s liie l e d StS t foreshore walking) Furnissdale The rides we had were just C rree o e a t s (boat ramp) access from t incredible as the dolphins R

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It was mid-morning on 9 November 2009 when the call came Photos Courtesy in to the WA Seabird Rescue (Inc.) 24-hour phone number: Mandurah Paddling Club, an adult dolphin was stranded in shallow water at Novara R Wroth, Mandurah and Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group was calling for Ocean Club, Sally Kirby volunteers. Although primarily Len Howard (Volunteer Dolphin Rescuer), Conservation Park Coodenup involved with the rescue and MandurahReser Cruisesve & rehabilitation of sick or injured Creery Island Gift Shop, Canoe Trail seabirds, members of WASR Friends of Mandurah & quickly arrived to assist. Pinjarra and, Mandurah- Murray Vietnam Although distressed and Peel Inlet Veterans Canoeing calling to members of its Group. pod, the dolphin appeared to realise that its rescuers were helping and barely struggled as they positioned a specially designed canvas sling around its body. The rescuers slowly walked the dolphin out to chest-deep water. When it sensed A romp with a pod of eight dolphins... an average day out on the Estuary!