Latest news with #DolphinSpottingBoat
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Exact location killer dolphin was last spotted off UK coast after slaying shark
Freak attacks on animals have sparked alarm in Wales as notorious dolphin 'Anakin' earns a chilling new nickname thanks to his latest fight with a shark in front of shocked onlookers 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.
Rhyl Journal
22-04-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
North Wales Chronicle
22-04-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
