Swimmers encountering a wild bottlenose dolphin in waters off the south coast of England, believing it to be ‘pleasant’, have been warned to steer clear of the animal if approached.
‘Reggie the dancing dolphin’ was noticed earlier in August taking part in with swimmers in Lyme Bay, Dorset. Video footage of the encounter went viral on-line.
Nevertheless, experiences have surfaced that Reggie has since been displaying aggressive behaviour in direction of people, particularly ‘ladies sporting wetsuits’, based on a kayaker who was compelled to intervene to forestall the dolphin harming a feminine swimmer.
Rhys Paterson, a kayaker from Lyme Regis, mentioned he was compelled to drive the dolphin away as Reggie repeatedly tried to push the lady’s head underwater.
‘We saved two swimmers who have been pretty deep, the place the dolphin stored leaping on them,’ he mentioned. ‘The dolphin was principally drowning this lady – it sort of jumped on her again 4 instances.
‘We had been following the dolphin for slightly bit, as a result of clearly it’s fairly an area legend on the minute.
‘However once we realised it wasn’t taking part in, it was fairly an enormous shock. Individuals want to grasp that it’s not an amusement arcade. It’s a wild animal. It may possibly snap rapidly.’
Warning over dolphin interactions
Reggie, who seems to be a lone dolphin with no pod, was first seen in Lyme Bay in February 2025, however by Could had turn out to be an everyday customer, prompting a warning from the UK’s Marine Administration Organisation.
In a assertion posted on the UK authorities’s web site, a spokesperson for the MMO mentioned: ‘A solitary bottlenose dolphin has turn out to be a frequent customer to the world simply exterior Lyme Regis harbour, sparking pleasure from each residents and guests.
‘Nevertheless, marine wildlife our bodies and conservation authorities are issuing steering following direct statement, experiences, and video of individuals deliberately approaching the animal too intently.
‘The Marine Administration Organisation (MMO), Dorset Police and Dorset Wildlife Belief remind everybody that dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by legislation.
‘It’s an offence to deliberately method or recklessly disturb these animals and will end in as much as six months in jail and/or an infinite positive.
‘Though seeing dolphins within the wild could be a particular expertise, irresponsible behaviour, notably from these swimming, paddleboarding, jet-skiing or working watercraft, can place the animal, or your self in danger.’
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Dolphins harmed by human interplay
Because the footage of Reggie’s interactions went viral in August, he has been seen with what seems to be accidents from a ship’s propeller on the upper-right aspect of his physique.
The accidents could also be a results of Reggie in search of additional human interactions and venturing into areas the place boat strikes usually tend to happen.
The aggressive behaviour and harm sighting have prompted a second assertion relating to Reggie’s welfare from the MMO.
‘We’re more and more involved a few lone dolphin noticed in Lyme Bay, Dorset, following a number of potential marine wildlife disturbance offences noticed on-line and shared on social media.
‘Please keep in mind: By no means swim with, contact, feed, or method dolphins. If a dolphin approaches you, calmly go away the world. Human interplay may cause dolphins to lose their pure wariness, resulting in harm and even loss of life. Disturbed dolphins are additionally identified to turn out to be aggressive towards individuals.
‘Dolphins could seem pleasant, however they’re wild animals. The dolphin in Lyme Bay has already been injured by a suspected boat propeller.
‘Let’s shield them by maintaining our distance and please share this message to respect their house.’
