Fungie facts for kids
.jpg)
Fungie in 2007
|
|
| Species | Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Before 1980 |
| Years active | 1983–2020 |
| Known for | Interaction with humans, long life |
| Residence | Dingle harbour and nearby waters |
| Appearance | Triangular-shaped nick on dorsal fin |
| Named after | A local fisherman who was teased for his attempt to grow a beard, who was nicknamed "Fungus" |
| Awards | World's oldest solitary dolphin |
Fungie, also known as the Dingle Dolphin, was a male common bottlenose dolphin. He became separated from other wild dolphins and lived in very close contact with humans in Dingle on the southwest coast of Ireland.
Wild bottlenose dolphins are estimated to have a median lifespan between 8.3 and 17.4 years, while one bottlenose has been observed to live for at least 67 years. Fungie was first seen in Dingle harbour in 1983 and continued to seek out human contact over the next 37 years. Thus, Fungie was fully grown and likely already in his middle or even old age at the time of his disappearance in October 2020. By 2019, it was estimated that he was at least 40 years of age and Guinness World Records declared him to be the oldest solitary wild dolphin in the world.
Fungie was known to interact playfully with swimmers, surfers, kayakers and divers in the water. There have not been any recorded cases of Fungie being aggressive towards humans. Although it is normal for social animals like dolphins to live in close contact with each other, it is still a rare occurrence for them to seek out human contact, and Fungie is the first recorded occurrence of a dolphin interacting positively with humans in the wild in Ireland. Fungie had been frequently observed eating garfish, something not previously known to be eaten by dolphins.
In October 2020, there was concern for his welfare after he had gone missing for several days, last seen 13 October. Marine experts have declared that he either moved on to the new waters, or died, with reported sightings after 15 October by the general public dismissed as "well-intentioned but incorrect".
