Caring for dolphins

If you see dolphins in distress, please call the WILDCARE Helpline on (08) 9474 9055. WILDCARE Helpline provides 24-hour state-wide referral to a dedicated group of volunteer wildlife carers and professionals for anyone who finds sick or injured  native wildlife.

Please observe these simple rules when you enjoying watching dolphins wherever you are in WA:

• Enjoy dolphins from a distance – never approach a wild dolphin and make sure you keep at least 50 metres away if you are in the water or 100 metres if you are on a boat, jetski, paddleboard or kayak;
• Let dolphins feed themselves – it is illegal and leaves them vulnerable to entanglement, boat strikes, and disease;
• Go slow for those below - dolphins often form resting groups in the middle reaches of the estuary, so keep an eye out for dolphins, and slow down if you spot any; and
• Support a clean marine environment - dolphins, particularly calves, can get tangled in fishing line. Dispose of unwanted fishing line in a rubbish bin or specially designed Reel it in fishing line bins. Locations of fishing line bins.

For more information on why feeding dolphins can harm, check out this website developed to help educate people about this global problem. http://www.dontfeedwilddolphins.org/

The poster below was developed by Murdoch University researcher Dr Delphine Chabanne to help raise awareness of the impact of fishing line on Perth's dolphin population.