Photos

Another one from Ireland

Fungie-mania

Who is the most popular resident of Dingle Town – well the one who spends all of his time in the water of course.


Fungie is a mature male bottlenose dolphin who has been resident in Dingle since early 1984. He is currently the longest standing, friendly solitary dolphin, known across the world.

He was first noticed as a lone dolphin escorting the town's fishing boats to and from the harbour. Not so long after the dolphin was first seen he was recorded as a "permanent" resident of the entrance channel and became the self-appointed "pilot" of the fleet. "Fungie", as he was christened by local fishermen -- is a fully grown, male bottlenose, Tursiops Truncatus.

"Fungie" is Ireland's first recorded occurrence of a wild dolphin who seems to prefer human company. During the summer months "Fungie" is often seen after the fish in the harbour. People travel far and wide to see him, swim and play with him and he has become an icon for people seeking what they consider to be the therapeutic power that contact with him carries.

My photograph shows the façade of a shop in the town who are well down the line of exploiting public knowledge of Dingle’ favourite resident.


Visit here to se why Fungie will be forever a friend of Dingle – nice story!
http://www.bluedolphin.org/sandh/fungie.html