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A bottlenose dolphin CHRIS O'MEARA/AP/Press Association Images

Beware of the dolphins! Expert tells swimmers not to 'act the maggot'

Dolphins are living off Donegal – but an expert has warned the species has killed people “if they act the maggot”.

A LARGE COLONY of bottlenose dolphins has taken up residence off Donegal – but a marine expert has warned swimmers and sailors to “be wary” of the pod.

Around 100 of the mammals – an unusually large number – have been spotted regularly in recent days in Donegal Bay between Rossnowlagh beach and Doorin Head, the Irish Independent reports. One expert said July to November is the height of the dolphin season, and the bottlenose often swims closer to shore than other dolphin species, giving wildlife spotters an especially good view.

However, Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said people shouldn’t get too close to the “big and robust” animals. He told Ocean FM the dolphins are “wild creatures living in an environment that is totally alien to us. You should be wary of them.”

Speaking to Highland FM, Dr Berrow added: “They’re very boisterous and active and will approach boats and people. Don’t get in the water with them. I’ve been working with them for 18 years and I’d be frightened to get in the water with them. They’re big, strong animals.”

He said there would only be a serious danger “if the person didn’t behave properly” in the water with the dolphins. “Bottlenose dolphins have killed people before, but only when people act the maggot,” he said.

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4 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lenbarry123
    Favourite Lenbarry123
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    Aug 12th 2011, 6:45 PM

    Isn’t a dolphin just a gay shark?

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave King
    Favourite Dave King
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    Aug 12th 2011, 8:19 PM

    1 is a mammal and the other will bite you in half…

    27
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    Mute Trevor Byrne
    Favourite Trevor Byrne
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    Aug 12th 2011, 8:09 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGepBtBCuTY

    Might explain why there’s been a huge upsurge in Japanese “tourists” to the area recently, hmm…

    20
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    Mute Sue Anthony
    Favourite Sue Anthony
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    Aug 12th 2011, 9:41 PM

    Irelands waters are a Whale and Dolphin sanctuary and as such no one can “interfere” the mamals.
    Rather than giving Dolphins the same bad press as sharks unfairly receive maybe Dr Berrows would provide information on what is and is not acceptable in the nationally recodnised Whale & Dolphin Sanctuary ?

    Of course I have to say, as we speak, Sea Shepherd are off the Faroe islands protecting over 2000 Pilot Whales (dolphins) from been slaughtered in an annual festival of drunken butchery.
    No, they are not eaten, no they are not an essential food, tradition – in Ireland we as reported in the Journal today, we used to practice human sacrifice and dump the bodies in the bog; somewhere along the way someone decided this was a bad tradition and changed it.

    17
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