IS V-Nick a babysitter or a mother? A photograph of the dolphin known as V-Nick to the Dolphin Research Institute with a new calf has raised the two possibilities.
Jeff Weir, the Hastings-based institute’s executive director, said last week that “future surveys with more images” would help determine V-Nick’s role in the calf’s upbringing.
“The success of mothers like V-Nick is crucial to the survival of her community of dolphins. This is special because V-Nick is common dolphin number one in our catalogue,” he said.
Weir has also announced that the institute’s Future Generations Appeal raised “a fantastic” $52,637, exceeding the fundraising target.
The Island Whale Festival (30 June – 2 July) saw many people attend spot-the-whale sessions at Cape Woolamai Life Saving Club, Phillip Island, with institute researchers giving tips on how to look for whales and advising on marine science careers.
The researchers also ran holiday programs for about 600 children.
“It is great to see the future generation of whale scientists scanning the horizon for telltale indicators of whales,” Weir said.
