Exact location killer dolphin was last spotted off UK coast after slaying shark
A killer dolphin is terrorising the waters off the coast of Cardigan Bay, in a phenomenon that has stunned marine experts and wildlife watchers.
The mammal, eerily nicknamed "Jack the Flipper", was filmed maiming a young dolphin before it launched a shark out of the sea in a violent killing spree.
The bottlenose dolphin, whose real name is Anakin (inspired by the troubled " Star Wars" character), was last seen off the coast of New Quay, Ceredigion - a popular wildlife hotspot in Wales known for its usually peaceful dolphin population.
But Anakin's behaviour is anything but peaceful. In a pair of shocking attacks, first reported by Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips, the dolphin was observed brutally killing a juvenile common dolphin in March, before turning on a smooth-hound shark just last week - flinging it out of the water in front of stunned passengers.
Marine spotter Sarah Michelle Wyer, who has monitored dolphin behaviour in the bay for eight years, captured the chilling moment and said she'd never seen anything like it.
'I've not seen a dolphin throw a shark out in all my years watching them,' she told The Sun.
'One of the skippers has seen them throw topes, which is another small member of the shark family, but not smooth-hounds.
'But when Anakin killed the young common dolphin, it was the first recorded instance of this behaviour in Cardigan Bay. It is unknown why this dolphin chose to do it as it would have been of no threat.'
While dolphins are widely seen as friendly, intelligent creatures, bottlenose dolphins can also display aggressive, even sadistic behaviours, especially toward smaller animals and rivals.
'They are not 'friendly flipper'. This particular dolphin seems to have a very unusual personality,' Sarah added.
'Despite the name, common dolphins aren't common around here. And we now think this could be because of the bottlenose dolphins.'
The smooth-hound shark killed last week can grow up to 4ft in length, but would have been no match for a full-grown bottlenose dolphin, which can reach lengths of up to 12ft.
Initially believed to be a salmon, the shark was carried past a boat of onlookers before being launched violently into the air.
A spokesperson for Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips said: 'We were very surprised when one of our local dolphins, Anakin, brought what we originally thought was a large salmon past the boat and then threw the fish out of the water.
'To our surprise, it was not a salmon but a member of the shark family called a smooth-hound.
'We aren't sure if there are many records of smooth-hounds being part of a bottlenose dolphin's diet. Bottlenose dolphins are opportunistic feeders and have a varied diet of fish, squid and crustaceans.
'Anakin's dolphinality is a very unusual one, to say the least.'
Where is 'Jack the Flipper' now?
Anakin was last spotted near New Quay, one of Cardigan Bay's main centres for dolphin watching. The waters between Aberaeron and Aberdovey are now being monitored more closely by local tour operators and researchers in case of further aggressive incidents.
While marine experts are not yet calling for intervention, concerns are growing about Anakin's impact on local wildlife, especially smaller dolphin species that may be avoiding the area.
Although bottlenose dolphins do not typically pose a threat to humans, their unpredictable nature - especially when displaying rogue or violent behaviours - means boaters and wildlife watchers are being urged to respect safe distances.
Marine biologists say Anakin's actions, while extreme, are not unprecedented globally - there have been cases of male dolphins targeting calves, rival pods, and even porpoises. But two lethal attacks, on different species, within three months in the same bay is exceptionally rare.
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