Update on Cliffy the dolphin

The Marine Connection would like to thank everyone who has supported the campaign so far to release Cliffy, the friendly sociable bottlenose dolphin which frequented the area around the Port of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia before being recently captured and taken into captivity by Sea World, located on the Gold Coast.

Cliffy, thought to be approx three years of age was initially found earlier this year with fishing lines wrapped around his tail fluke and after a six week recuperation period at Sea World to regain his strength, the dolphin was released. However, Sea World and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) who are the governing body that has autonomy on all marine mammals in the state of Queensland and who authorised the capture are saying the dolphin is having trouble adapting to life back in the wild and relying on fishermen to feed him. According to others however, Cliffy was also often seen feeding and hunting fish for himself. The majority of people living in the area do not want this dolphin to remain in captivity.

After further investigations into possible options for Cliffy, the Marine Connection has had the offer to release the dolphin to an area that would very much limit his interaction with boats or humans, with the eventual aim being that he is independent of people. Funding is in place, along with experienced marine biologists who would oversee the release programme, over a period of time. Although we are concerned for the future welfare and protection of Cliffy, its vital that he is given the opportunity of living in the ocean again. Although it is not usual for these highly social marine mammals to live alone without the company of their own species, there have, and continue to be to this day, many solitary/social dolphins thriving in the wild around the world.

Taking Cliffy into captivity should not be the first and only option for this sociable but wild, free-ranging animal.

Please email the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asking them to support the release programme by granting Cliffy his return to the ocean.

(To read the background story click here)