Summer holiday for dolphins

Members of Moray Firth pod spotted in the Netherlands and Irish waters

Dthis month due to its distinguishing scars on its olphins from dorsal fin. the Moray And another, Spirtle, Firth have been was easily recognised in recorded going Irish waters due to the on their holidays and severe scarring all across leaving the UK’s shorelines its back, which it suffered for the very first time. when it became stranded

Researchers from and severely sunburned. Aberdeen University have Spirtle, Mischief, and the confirmed sightings of other dolphins seen in the between four and nine Netherlands and Ireland members of the east of were all recorded around Scotland population the Moray Firth area this of bottlenose dolphins March. swimming around off the The scientists studying coast of the Netherlands. the charismatic animals are

The reports come now questioning whether following sightings of or not this is the first time other animals from the they have left Scotland. firth enjoying the views A statement from the near the coastline of southwest Lighthouse Field Station Ireland. team said: “These are the

The researchers, from the first known sightings of Lighthouse Field Station the east coast of Scotland inCromarty,wereableto bottlenose dolphin confirm the dolphins were population outside the UK. from Moray due to some “Now the big questions of their unusual markings. are, is this a first for this

They were able to population, or do these identify one of the dolphins, dolphins regularly travel nicknamed Mischief, in further than we realised? the Netherlands earlier “These sightings have

only come to light because two of these dolphins, Mischief and Spirtle, have unique and unusual markings that we were able to confidently match to our catalogue.

“And we may have not heard about any of these photos without the presence of social media.

“Or, are there unknown drivers influencing some dolphins to investigate new habitats?

“Either way, now our challenge is to try and understand these previously unknown movements.”

Meanwhile, the Sea Watch Foundation is urging members of the public to get involved in its annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch, where members of the public can help by recording sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises to keep the organisation’s database up-to-date.

The event runs until next Sunday.

Picture courtesy of Jeroen Hoekendijk SIGHTING: Mischief was spotted in the Netherlands.

Picture courtesy of Aberdeen University Mischief the dolphin has distinctive scarring on its dorsal fin.

Picture courtesy of Aberdeen University Spirtle the dolphin’s markings come from being sunburnt.