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"Mystique"
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Fraser Coast Dolphins
The
two most common dolphin species in the area are the Bottlenose (Tursiops
truncatus) and Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis).
The Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins
are the main focus of our tour and this is the only location in Australia
(in fact we believe the World) that you have the opportunity to come "Face to Face" with this
species of dolphin. The population of this rare dolphin species in
the Great Sandy Straight is
estimated between 50 -100 individuals in at least 3 pods, one pod in
particular has a long history of human interaction.
Since
the early 1990's the Environment Protection Agency has put together guidelines
for our interaction with the dolphins,
Click Here to
View.
History
of Human-Dolphin Interaction
The
Dolphins of the Fraser Coast have helped the Undanbi aboriginal
people in their fishing practices for centuries. This tradition of
interaction has continued in modern times. 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. "Scarry" and her youngest surviving calf
"Mystique" (Male, born April 1992) regularly attending the feeding area at Norman
Point on the Fraser Coast up to 358 days in 2001.
Unfortunately
"Scarry" has not been sighted in the feeding area since late
November 2002, although there continues to be unconfirmed reports of her in
the Great Sandy Straight it is commonly believed she is deceased.
"Mystique", who
is believed be sexually mature, continues to visit on a regular basis, occasionally bringing his
mates and young calves with him, a chart of "Mystique's" visit
frequency prepared from the Volunteer Dolphin Ranger's Data; up to the 28th
February 2005
Notes:
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As
you
can see that in the winter months the visit numbers drop off, we believe that
this is due to several factors including the lower water temperature in
the shallow creek at feeding area, migratory fish (Mullet, Tailor,
Australian Salmon) runs that move through the area at this
time and the winter mating/calving peak. However, as the fish runs end and the
weather warms up visit frequency increases with November to April the best
chance to meet "Mystique" Face to Face.
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A
dramatic drop-off of visits in March 2004 may be associated with
heavy flood rains (over 500mm) from 2 tropical lows, this caused
turbidity to increase significantly for several days after each
flood.
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Mystique
suffered an attack from a large Tiger Shark some time between his
visit on the 2nd and 3rd April 2004. The bite wound was over 34cm
across (Back tooth to Back Tooth), estimated the size of shark at between
3-3.8 meters. See
shark bite photos on page 4 of our Photo Gallery
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Winter
2004 has been an interesting one for Mystique, on the 18th June
whilst Mystique was in the feeding area a number of Australian Army
LARC (amphibious landing craft) entered the water at the boat ramp
just down stream, he took off in a panic and has not returned to the feeding
area since (now a month) We were all very concerned for his safety as
he has never been away for so long. Thankfully
Mystique returned on 19th July with no obvious new wounds and
looking in good health, maybe he got the vibes from my comment
yesterday!!!
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Early
October "Mystique" started visiting regularly again, accompanied
occasionally by "White Fin" and another smaller dolphin (possibly
"Primrose")
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After
a very patchy winter "Mystique" has actually visited us more
in November 2004 than in the past 4 Novembers!!! I have a theory that
this may have something to do with an extensive algae bloom that
usually occurs
further down the Great Sandy Strait at this time of year, as his visits
become less regular when the bloom breaks up. As
you can see from the drop off in December 2004 my theory may be
correct, but most of the drop off was due to a 6 day straight absence,
no idea where he went or why.
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January
2005 visit number was lower due to a 10 day straight absence once again like
last month no idea why, but it did coincide with Tropical Cyclone
Kerry in the Coral Sea although this area wasn't severely affected.
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28 Sept
2005 The
Minister for the Environment ordered that feeding of Dolphins at
Tin Can Bay is to cease immediately to
learn more click here
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8/10/2005 QLD Premier Peter
Beattie Steps in to Allow Dolphin Feeding to resume after pressure from
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell. We are now also legally able to
feed "Mystiques" regular companion "White Patch" Special Thanks to Steve
Walker &
Family at Barnacles for their Courage to stand up to an unreasonable government
decision.
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October 2006: Tours have resumed with
"Mystique" & "White Patch" visiting the
feeding area more often than any time since "Scarry" disappeared
in Nov. 2004.
Members of the
Indo-Pacific Dolphin pod that visit the Snapper Creek area
"Mystique" (male, born April 1992) The most regular visitor to
Snapper Creek feeding area.
"Ella"
(female, born early 1970's): she has a small group of 3 believed to be her
calves .She is believed to "Scarry's" oldest surviving calf
"White
Fin/White Patch" (female, age unknown) has distinctive bent dorsal fin with
extensive white markings
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8th Jan 2004: in with three other
dolphins and a very dark grey calf approx. 1m
in length (possibly new born)
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25th Dec 2003: swimming just off feeding area.
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September
2005: Now regular visitor to feeding area and as of October 2005
allowed by EPA to be fed with "Mystique"
"Primrose" (female, born 2000):
thought to be "White Fin's" calf, regularly in with
"Chompy"
(sex & age unknown) very obvious shark bite wound on upper tail stock
"Tinkerbell"
(Sex Unknown, born 2002) distinctive low triangle dorsal fin, rarely comes
into Snapper Creek but often seen just out of creek in Tin Can Bay in
company of "Ella"
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