We are privileged to see the dolphins in the wild, however their welfare is of great concern. For the safety of the dolphins and yourselves, please follow the guidelines below and the instruction of the volunteer rangers.

Why are these dolphins so special?

The dolphins at Tin Can bay are Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis), a species listed as rare. They are found in shallow, warm temperate and tropical waters of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans - rarely more than a few kilometres off shore. The Fraser Coast's mangrove lined estuaries, where they can feed on a variety of fish and crustaceans, are ideal for these dolphins.

Because the Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins live in shallow water, they are more threatened by exposure to people, habitat modification and pollution than open water species such as the more common Bottlenose dolphin.

 Indo- Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

Why are they here?

In the early 1950's a fisherman accidentally injured a young dolphin in trawling equipment. He and others fed the dolphin to help her regain health. She become known as "Scarry" and various people continued to feed her from boats and other locations. Since the early 1990's she has visited the shores of the bay to be fed, now members of her family also visit.

Behaviour and Communication

Indo- Pacific Humpback Dolphins usually travel in small groups or alone. There is generally a strong and prolonged bond between mother and calf. They use whistles and clicks for communication and have highly developed echo-location for navigation and hunting. they appear to have good eyesight-above and below the water.

In the wild they behave aggressively in defence against predators, even chasing off and killing sharks.

Remember, the dolphins are wild creatures - if they feel threatened they could injure you!

For the safety of the dolphins and yourselves, please follow the instructions of the volunteer rangers and the following guidelines:

Please do not go near the dolphins if you are ill or have open wounds - cold and influenza viruses and germs from open wounds can infect the dolphins

It is illegal and dangerous to stand on the boat ramp unless launching or retrieving a boat - stand on the beach or jetty.

Enter the water only if feeding dolphins:

• remove watches, and jewellery from your hands

• apply sunscreen and repellents only to those parts other the body that will not go into the water then wash your hands - chemicals can harm the dolphins eyes

• stand still in knee-deep water

• hold your fish by the tail at the waters surface

• leave the water when feeding is complete

• swimming with or touching the dolphins is not permitted

Feeding is restricted to:

• 8-11am each day

• only one fish per person

• only "Mystique" may be fed.

• a maximum of 3kg of fish per day

These feeding restrictions occur because of concern for the welfare of hand-fed dolphins. Experience elsewhere suggests:

• dolphins may become overfed - possible resulting in ill health

• young dolphins may not learn how to hunt effectively

• social behaviour in a group may be disrupted

• a calf left alone while adults come in to feed is vulnerable to attack by predators

• handfed dolphins have become aggressive when feeling threatened.

In Queensland It is illegal to feed dolphins outside of permitted and monitored areas, these are at Tin Can bay and Tangalooma

The Information on this page was sourced from the QLD E.P.A. Dolphin Info Sheet