On the June 25, 2021, one of our well-known Port River Dolphins named Doc was captured for the purpose to free him from fishing line and fishing hooks in his mouth and body. As seen by the photo poor Doc’s mouth was cut up badly by the hooks. The fishing line cut down to the bone, and the bone had turned black. This is a clear and obvious indication he had a severe infection. But the vet did NOT give him antibiotics. Why not? The vet did not give him pain relief. Why not? This is gross incompetence, and the attending department ranger did not push for treatment. Two days later Doc disappeared. Too many dolphins have died from this kind of incompetence. Too many dolphins have died from neglect. This population of wild dolphins is in fast decline. We call on Minister Speirs, the head of this government department to hand over health care of these dolphins to the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organization (AMWRRO).

Doc is not the first dolphin of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) to be neglected by the  Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) responsible for the care and welfare of these dolphins. In Doc’s case, we would like to know why this vet was chosen to be involved in this disentanglement? In many previous disentanglements of other dolphins in the ADS, AMWRRO has been involved. Those operations were successful, and the dolphins survived. In 2019 a young dolphin calf named Mimo was successfully disentangled from fishing line where AMWRRO gave the calf vitamins and antibiotics to stave off any infection. So why wasn’t Doc given the same treatment? Why wasn’t AMWRRO called in for his disentanglement? Why was a zoo vet with no experience with dolphins called in instead?

Also in 2019 another well-known dolphin named Star suffered from fishing line and fishing hooks entanglement. The first rescue attempt failed because the same department ranger above called it off at 4pm because “his staff had had a long day”, even though the dolphin was circling the rescue boat in prime position to be captured. Then came a long delay due to red tape and stuff ups by the department, and the next rescue became a body collection instead. Gross neglect caused her death.

As mentioned, Doc went missing two days after the disentanglement operation, and then on the 7th August another well-known dolphin Twinkle was last seen struggling to stay alive and has not been seen since. He too was neglected by this department after being injured by heavy fishing gear which took out part of his lower jaw. AMWRRO recommended urgent treatment with antibiotics, but the department ignored this advice and did nothing. Gross neglect. On the 23 August another well-known dolphin named Tallula was found deceased. That count is 3 dolphins in less than 3 months. All three dolphins were thin and no action was taken by the department to find out why they were thin. Only now after they have gone is an investigation to be made through consultations and the necropsy report on Tallula. But is this enough? Will this give us answers? Will AMWRRO be called in to give their expert views in this investigation?

DEWNR tells us it is their policy not to intervene with dolphin illness unless the cause is from human impact. In 2012 a dolphin calf in Whyalla had a nasty bite from a shark and DEWNR approved AMWRRO to intervene and give that dolphin antibiotics. DEWNR claims it is their policy not to give antibiotics to wild dolphins. But they allowed it in 2012 for the calf mentioned above, and Mimo after his disentanglement. It seems the department can go against policy if it chooses to do so, so why did they not give treatment to Doc?

It would seem the action plan for the department when dolphins show ill health is 1. Monitor (= do nothing) and 2. Let nature take it’s course (= do nothing). Enough is enough. With only 10 permanent dolphin residents left we call on Minister Speirs to give permission to AMWRRO to treat and care for all sick, injured and entangled dolphins. They need to update their policies to include research and treatment for all dolphins needing it.

Please sign this petition to help save the last of the Port River Dolphins.