Dear Marmam subscribers,

Having published papers previously on solitary dolphins (see references below), we are currently working on an up to date review of welfare issues facing these animals and, therefore, we are trying to identify which solitary dolphins are currently being monitored and/or studied.

We have carried out searches using Google, Google Scholar and Web of Science. The dolphins which were recorded most recently (i.e. in 2017/2018) include Fungie (Ireland), Pechocho (Mexico), Jojo (Turks and Caicos), Fiete/Freddy (seen in Germany and France) and Randy/Dony/Georges (seen in France, Ireland and Belgium).

Most mentions of solitary dolphins are found on news and NGO websites, but we list recent peer-reviewed papers below.

If you have any details of solitary dolphins other than those mentioned above which you are able to share with us, we would appreciate hearing from you!

Thank you for your help.

Mark Simmonds and Laetitia Nunny

REFERENCES

Barbieri, G. and Bearzi, G. 2000. Behaviour of a solitary, “sociable” bottlenose dolphin in southern Italy. European Research on Cetaceans 14:107-109.

Eisfeld, Simmonds & Stansfield (2010) Behaviour of a Solitary Sociable Female Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncates) off the Coast of Kent, Southeast England. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 13(1), 31-45.

López, B. Et al (2008) Diving activity of a solitary wild free ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 88(6): 1153-1157.

Müller, M. And Bossley, M. (2002) Solitary bottlenose dolphins in comparative perspective. Aquatic Mammals, 28.3; 298-307.

Nimak-Wood, M., Pleslic, G., Rako, N., Mackelworth, P., Holcer, D. and Fortuna, C.M. (2011) Presence of a solitary striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in Mali Losinj Harbour, Northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia. Vie et Milieu – Life and Environment. 61(2): 87-93.

Rako, N., Holcer, D. and Fortuna, C. M. (2009) Long-term inshore observation of a solitary striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, in the Vinodol Channel, Northern Adriatic Sea (Croatia). Nat. Croat. 18(2): 427–436.

Simmonds, M., & Stansfield, L. (2007). Solitary sociable dolphins in the UK. British Wildlife, 19, 96–101.