Davina the Dolphin
Encyclopedia
Davina the Dolphin was a sociable solitary dolphin who resided off the coast in the Shepway
area of England
for approximately eighteen months. This was a very unusual situation as dolphins normally reside with family groups known as pods, and are not usually seen on their own. She was often spotted swimming in the English Channel
. There is a website dedicated to the dolphin which was created by an angler called Simon Chandler.
During her time in the area, Davina received several serious injuries from being struck by boat propellers of people going out to see her. In August, 2007, she received an injury to her dorsal fin
that took several months to heal. Then, in October, she lost a third of her tail, and this was considered a life-threatening injury. She was successfully treated with antibiotics administered by a vet working with the cetacean rescue organisation British Divers Marine Life Rescue
.
She was seen in the area after this, and her condition appeared to be improving. However, she suddenly went missing from the area shortly after this. She was last reported to be seen in early November 2007. Although BDMLR marine mammal medics are still visiting the area on a regular basis, she has not been seen since, and there are fears that she may have died of an infection to her tail wound or may have been caught and drown in fishing nets. But there has been no confirmation of this either way and hopes are that she is still alive but has simply left the area or perhaps rejoined another pod of dolphins.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
had volunteers watching out for the safety of the dolphin and monitoring Davina and the behaviour of members of the public around her from the moment she appeared in the area. They also provided educational materials, passing out information leaflets to people on the beach and answering questions. Along with other organisations from the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition, BDMLR was concerned for the safety and well being of any solitary dolphin due to these animals often becoming harmed by human interaction. Davina is a female bottlenosed dolphin
, and she is estimated to be about 6 years old according to the MARC.
On 9 June 2007, two men were arrested while swimming with Dave, for the crime of 'disturbing' a dolphin. They pled not guilty and the case is still ongoing at Folkestone Magistrate's Court. On April 17th 2008 Michael Jukes, 27 and Daniel Buck, 26, were both ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work after magistrates convicted them of intentionally or recklessly disturbing a wild animal
contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
website:
Kent Online
BBC News
Other media
Shepway
Shepway is a local government district in Kent, England. It includes the towns of Folkestone and Hythe and the Romney Marsh. It is named after the Jutish lathe of Shepway; the Royal Court of Shepway, which met near Lympne at a place called Shepway Cross, was the principal court of the Cinque Ports...
area of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for approximately eighteen months. This was a very unusual situation as dolphins normally reside with family groups known as pods, and are not usually seen on their own. She was often spotted swimming in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. There is a website dedicated to the dolphin which was created by an angler called Simon Chandler.
During her time in the area, Davina received several serious injuries from being struck by boat propellers of people going out to see her. In August, 2007, she received an injury to her dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
that took several months to heal. Then, in October, she lost a third of her tail, and this was considered a life-threatening injury. She was successfully treated with antibiotics administered by a vet working with the cetacean rescue organisation British Divers Marine Life Rescue
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
British Divers Marine Life Rescue is a British charity established in 1988 to train for, and respond to marine animals in distress in British waters and on coasts....
.
She was seen in the area after this, and her condition appeared to be improving. However, she suddenly went missing from the area shortly after this. She was last reported to be seen in early November 2007. Although BDMLR marine mammal medics are still visiting the area on a regular basis, she has not been seen since, and there are fears that she may have died of an infection to her tail wound or may have been caught and drown in fishing nets. But there has been no confirmation of this either way and hopes are that she is still alive but has simply left the area or perhaps rejoined another pod of dolphins.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
British Divers Marine Life Rescue is a British charity established in 1988 to train for, and respond to marine animals in distress in British waters and on coasts....
had volunteers watching out for the safety of the dolphin and monitoring Davina and the behaviour of members of the public around her from the moment she appeared in the area. They also provided educational materials, passing out information leaflets to people on the beach and answering questions. Along with other organisations from the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition, BDMLR was concerned for the safety and well being of any solitary dolphin due to these animals often becoming harmed by human interaction. Davina is a female bottlenosed dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
, and she is estimated to be about 6 years old according to the MARC.
On 9 June 2007, two men were arrested while swimming with Dave, for the crime of 'disturbing' a dolphin. They pled not guilty and the case is still ongoing at Folkestone Magistrate's Court. On April 17th 2008 Michael Jukes, 27 and Daniel Buck, 26, were both ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work after magistrates convicted them of intentionally or recklessly disturbing a wild animal
contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
External links — Davina in the news
The dolphin has repeatedly made it on to the Kent Online and BBC NewsBBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
website:
Kent Online
- How dolphin begged swimmers to leave her alone
- Still no sign of missing Dave the dolphin
- Fears for safety of 'missing' Dave the dolphin
- Dave the dolphin responding well after serious injury
- Battle is on to save Dave's life
- Dave tail injury 'could be fatal'
- Bid to save Dave the Dolphin's life
- Warning after jet skiers harass 'celebrity' dolphin
- Sign up and help save Dave the dolphin
- Save Dave the dolphin stay away from him
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Cinderella stars 'dolphin Dave'
- Dolphin Dave 'becoming a danger'
- Dave the dolphin film criticised
- Dolphin fans 'urged to keep away'
- Dolphin Dave honoured with award
- Dolphin Dave boosts town's trade
- Kayakers harassing 'dolphin Dave'
- Dolphin 'at risk from being tame'
- Search on the BBC Website
Other media
- Davina, the friendly dolphin with half a tail
- The Telegraph: Tougher laws needed to protect friendly dolphins