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THE IRISH WHALE and Dolphin Group is making a renewed appeal to swimmers in Clare not to antagonise a bottlenose dolphin known locally as ‘Dusty’. It’s after a number of people were hospitalised as a result of being rammed by the mammal in recent weeks.
In the latest incident, a woman was rammed by the dolphin in Doolin on Sunday night. According to the Irish Coast Guard, she was treated at the scene for her injuries before being transferred to hospital by ambulance.
Around four or five other people have been hospitalised as a result of interactions with Dusty, according to the IWDG. One woman was medivaced back to Germany after she was rammed by the bottlenose in Fanore, and the group says this may only be “the tip of the iceberg”.
The IWDG has placed posters around the slip and harbour in Doolin, and the group says it’s never wise to swim with wild dolphins or whales in Ireland:
The risk is not only to humans but also to the dolphin as habituation to humans increases risk of injury or death to the dolphin.Around 80% of such interactions worldwide end up in the death or severe injury of the dolphins involved.
The IWDG poster says that if swimmers insist on swimming with Dusty, they should “respect her as a wild dolphin and not grab, lunge or chase after her”, adding:
If she shows agressive behaviour or is boisterous they should leave the water.
Following the increase in incidents in recent weeks, the IWDG says it’s concerned that many visitors, especially in the summer “do not recognise the signals that Dusty sends out when she is not happy with their behaviour”.
There are fears that authorities may be forced to remove or destroy the mammal if there’s another serious injury, or a fatality.
Dusty’s reactions to swimmers who get too close can be observed in the below video. As poster John Landy notes, the dophin “had been playful and friendly all afternoon, then one of the bathers went too far and the results can be seen”.
(Youtube: John Landy)
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Cancer doesn’t care it you are
Black or white,
Rich or poor,
Or young or old….
Best of luck to you and all others who are fighting the big fight…
Well said
Are you head of his supporter’s club paddy :-)
Hugh why were my comments removed?
At end of the day your health is most important. Good luck to him in his fight
The manner in which Brian Lenihan and his family were treated by TV3 was nothing short of disgraceful. I would hate to think that the same was about to happen to Michael Noonan at the hands of a tabloid newspaper.
Hugh, some would say that the manner in which Brian Lenihan treated the Irish public was nothing short of disgraceful. I doubt that those who have had their medical cards removed from their sick children, as an indirect result of Lenihan’s capitulation to Europe would shed too many tears over a newspaper article.
Im actually shocked at this comment. These people are psychopaths that treat the electorate with disregard to put it nicely. I actually can’t believe you are trying to protect them. Open your eyes
Leave his private medical life to himself ffs.
People have to disclose their private lives to get the treatment they bee to stay alive. Maybe he can now empathise with the MS sufferers and how they have taken their medication off the free medical scheme.
There are others facing the reality of cancer every day and trying to come to terms with it.
I’m willing to bet noonan wasn’t left on a trolly or had to face huge waiting lists for treatment.
I empathize with him but he will be well looked after.
Cancer will effect one in three of us in some way.
What business is it of yours, mine or anyone else’s what standard of treatment he gets.
Well then why go to the media then if it’s his own business?
Well if doesn’t turn up for work in the next few weeks people will be asking why.
Bet he won’t be waiting for treatments like the rest of us
“Seized the initiative”.. went public when the media were about to.
I hope his medical card wasn’t cancelled for some reason. It would seem unreasonable to cancel a card on someone with a serious medical condition….
And still he made it onto the Tarmac to meet Donald. Is it fair, when so many are suffering with cancer that he plays down the heavy toll it that’s on family’s. Noonan Family must be worried sick that the stress of office could hinder recovery. if he feels he can contuine then it must be on medicinal grounds but with the stress test of our banks. His head of dept leaving and a possible property bubble forming should he have the finial say. for that matter show we be worried about the physical and mental health of all TD. Should a medicinal not be compulsory before taking their seats in Dáil Éireann. asking for drug tests and breath samples before voting on legislation maybe going a bit far but leaving control in so few hands and if some where compromised due to drink or mental ability. Could that legislation they voted on not be open to question due to their state of mind.
Excellent!
What’s excellent about that drivel, you must be easily pleased, such asinine posts.
Pass the puke bucket ,please ! It’s a private matter and he’s just another human being ,fighting a battle !
I can’t believe he still has his snout at the trough at 71. There should be a mandatory retirement age for them exactly like for everybody else.
taking leaders questions and according to media reports its opportunity to congratulate him on his fight with cancer……..not a mention of the 800 babies buried in septic tank
I do not really get how this article is an analysis or even why an analysis is required. It’s more of a ‘noonan is a great fella altogether for getting ahead of the ball with this cancer and getting on with the job,’ type of personal opinion.
mike how is Bill
have your say