Dolphin struck by spear

Reports of an apparent speargun attack on a dolphin in Adelaide’s Port River has alarmed WDC’s team in the area.

Late last year a shotgun pellet was found in the fin of a dead dolphin in the Outer Harbour, and WDC science and education manager in Australia, Dr Mike Bossley believes multi-pronged spear was responsible for the wounds recently found on another dolphin; one of a resident pod of about 30 bottlenose dolphins in the area.

Mike says the discovery is disturbing. “We can’t prove that this was a deliberate attack but it is very difficult to see how the wound could have been caused by anything other than spear.”