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We have received further reports of sightings of Dony around the island of Ouessant, off the north-west coast of Brittany. Dony has been following fishing boats and making it hard for the fishermen to pull in their lines – though he has not been accused of stealing any fish yet! We imagine that this represents curiosity on Dony’s part, similar to his continuing fascination with propellers. Divers including Yves Gladu have also been in swimming with the dolphin, but the water has been too churned up for photos recently. Local schoolteacher and marine mammal enthusiast Sébastien Durdux was out fishing on Thursday 8th and took these photos as Dony followed his boat right in to the harbour of Stiff. Sébastien reports that Dony has been around the island since the middle of April, though he is not seen every day. On another occasion Sébastien was diving with Dony. He says that the dolphin was very 'chatty' and came very close to him, obviously seeking contact, but that he was rather agitated and perhaps difficult to communicate with - an experience many of us will recognise from swimming with Dony!
If you were an Irish dolphin returning from an extended European tour, the Ouessant islands would be your last jumping off point before leaving the French coastline and heading for Kerry, so we wish Dony south-easterly winds and bon voyage!
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Meanwhile down in southern Finistère, the ‘second’ (or first) currently interactive dolphin in Brittany, Jean-Floch, is still present around Cap Sizun and Point de Brezellec. This is the same area where the famous (female!) dolphin known as Jean Louis was resident in the 80’s and 90’s. Divers who have swum with both dolphins have confirmed that this is a different dolphin, but its sex and other distinguishing features have not yet been recorded. Dony apparently visited Jean-Floch a couple of weeks ago before returning to Ouessant.
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click here for a map of Finistere showing sighting
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Date
Posted: 11/05/2003
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