Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Concerned members of the public have called on Barunga West Council and the state government to take action to help protect a lone dolphin from interactions with people.

There are reports some people have interfered with the dolphin, which has been seen along the Port Broughton foreshore.

Although nicknamed Eric, the dolphin’s gender has not been confirmed.

BWC last week appealed to the public via Facebook to observe mandatory exclusion zones around dolphins.

“Watch Eric’s playful antics from the safety of the jetty,” the BWC post says.

“Avoid getting too close, and definitely refrain from attempting to touch or ride him.

“If you witness anyone harming Eric or behaving inappropriately around him, please report it immediately.”

However, Facebook followers say council and state government should do more to protect Eric and other dolphins in the area.

“Please consider taking this upon yourselves (council) to call and have the appropriate authorities assist you putting something in place,” Natasha English McCulloch said.

“It really needs someone in a position of authority monitoring these interactions and stopping people who are doing the wrong thing.

“It was quite distressing watching people swim on top of him/her and herd them around the jetty.

“Literally (there were) half a dozen people in flippers chasing Eric to stay on top of them whenever he got close to the jetty.”

Also on Facebook, Sandra Mauger said it is critical to protect Eric, particularly over Easter.

She asked for council to erect a sign on the Port Broughton jetty with information about the relevant guidelines.

A Barunga West Council spokesperson said yesterday (Monday, March 18) that council plans to put up signage in due course.

“We don’t have any further information for you at this time,” the spokesperson said.

Matthew Heard, National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation ecologist for Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North, said the service will not have enough resources to monitor the Port Broughton coastal area over Easter.

He said frequent and close interactions with humans put dolphins at risk, as it discourages them from following their natural behaviour.

“While they are interacting with humans, they are not carrying out their normal functions of feeding and interacting with other dolphins,” Mr Heard said.

“Also, we have had instances in the past where dolphins have become so habituated (to people) and they end up biting people.

“The key message is that, while this dolphin is friendly, it is still a wild animal and should be treated as a wild animal.”

Eric has a distinctive bent dorsal fin, which Mr Heard said could put him at greater risk of being entangled in a fishing net if he becomes too habituated to people and boats.

Mr Heard said bent dorsal fins could be a sign of illness or the result of injury.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 19 March 2024.