Tangalooma feeds tourists’ hunger for a natural wildlife experience
ONE of Tangalooma’s drawcards is getting to hand feed wild bottlenose dolphins at sunset. Every evening a family of dolphins makes its way to the shores of the resort to be fed by tourists.
When the dolphins arrive of their own accord, dedicated staff check the health of the wild dolphins before they help guests, who sign up to feed them 10 to 20 per cent of their daily food intake to ensure they still hunt for themselves.
Several dolphins visit daily, including the 28-year-old Tinkerbell, the dominant female of the pod. The mother of five is about two-and-a-half metres long and weighs about 250 kilos.
Her youngest is two-and-ahalf-year-old Calypso, the granddaughter of Beauty, the first dolphin to begin hand feeding at Tangalooma during the 1990s.
Guests can also meet the resident kookaburras at a free feeding every afternoon at 4.45pm.
The kookaburras perch on the signs near the Eco Centre, where the rangers feed them while talking to tourists about the iconic Australian bird.
Pelicans also gather near the resort jetty every morning for breakfast. The rangers share interesting facts about the pelicans and other magnificent sea birds that call Moreton Island home.
With the resort surrounded by 98 per cent National Park, the Eco Centre provides a fascinating insight into the wildlife on the island and surrounding waters. It is here where you can register to feed the dolphins.
You can also hire waders for $15 to make your dolphin feeding experience a dry one.