The Mandurah Dolphin Research Project (MDRP) will be assessing the status of the Peel-Harvey dolphins population over the next few years.
Since the start of the project we have encountered 157 dolphin groups and identified about 200 different dolphins throughout our 600 km2 study area.
One of the most exciting parts of our study so far has been to observe six new calves born into the population in the Peel-Harvey.
One of the calves is a ‘grandcalf’ of a very well-known dolphin called Nicky.
She is the dolphin with the chopped-off fin many of you may have seen, as she spends a lot of time in town waters.
Nicky’s calf, Christmas, gave birth to her own calf just a few weeks ago and was appropriately named Easter.
Although dolphins may give birth any time of the year, we see births usually in the summer months when the water temperature is the highest.
We hope that we will see another few calves born before winter.
The MDRP is a partnership between Murdoch University, City of Mandurah and Mandurah Cruises that commenced in January 2016.
They are measuring how many dolphins use the Peel-Harvey waterways and how they are connected to dolphins in nearby coastal waters.
You can follow the MDRP on Facebook or through this weekly column.