The friendly pod of wild bottlenose dolphins regularly swim to Monkey Mia’s shore to interact with humans up to three times a day. This often occurs more frequently in the mornings, with feeding times occurring between 7.45am and 12 noon.
Between four to seven dolphins visit for daily feedings, with up to 20 others visiting occasionally, often sighted in the bay with swimmers or on wildlife cruises. These occasional visitors stay offshore, preferring to keep a safe distance from human contact. It may take up to several years before they gain enough confidence to venture closer to shore. Renowned as one of the best and most reliable places for dolphin interaction in the world, Monkey Mia is the only place in Australia where dolphins visit daily, not just seasonally. Researchers from across the globe come here to study these fascinating creatures.The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) established Monkey Mia as a marine reserve in 1990. A designated interaction area was created to help protect the dolphins while allowing selected visitors to feed them during designated feeding times. A small entry fee must be paid to enter the reserve, but the dolphin interaction is free.There are usually three rangers on duty at any one time. As well as staffing the Monkey Mia Visitor Centre, they ensure the dolphins are approached in the correct manner. The dolphins are well looked after, with four provisioned dolphins provided with less than 10% of their daily food requirement - this ensures that the dolphins continue to hunt and remain wild. You may be privileged enough to feed the dolphins under supervision, however, this is not guaranteed. Please keep in mind that swimming with and touching the dolphins is prohibited by law.
