A holiday in the South West has come to an end for three dolphins, who have returned home to the Peel-Harvey region after more than a year away.
Buddy, Spot and Nikaila have all been spotted back in local waterways after spending time in the Leschenault Estuary.
Buddy, the oldest of six young dolphins who trekked down to Bunbury, was last seen in the region on August 29, taking more than 13 months away from Mandurah.
He was reunited with Spot who is understood to have spent a little less time away.
Nikaila was the third dolphin to return home, after 15 months away.
Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre communications manager Axel Grossmann said this was significant because it was the first time these movements between populations had been documented.
“The Tursiops aduncus doesn’t migrate, or at least we thought it doesn’t,” he said.
“They literally live in a 20km to 25km radius and move within that throughout the season and depending on food, their needs and social structures.”
He said there were multiple possible explanations for the dolphins’ movements, including the Peel-Harvey Estuary possibly becoming too busy for the pod.
“These five females and one male simply didn’t see a future there amongst all the other social structures that are already existing,” Mr Grossmann said.
“Changing conditions and food sources, as well as human impact could be another reason.”
Mr Grossmann said researchers would study this movement to better understand the dolphins’ behaviours.
“We will basically have to extend our search and through fin identification, find out more and follow the traces dolphins left behind through their appearance in certain areas,” he said.
https://thewest.com.au/news/south-west/dolphins-return-to-mandurah-after-leschenault-holiday–c-19995841
