The dolphin Mimmo continues to be talked about. Despite the recent attempt to remove it from the lagoon to ensure its safety, the cetacean quickly returned to the heart of Venice, reappearing in the San Marco basin a few hours after the operation. His presence, which has now become an attraction for residents and tourists, is however accompanied by growing alarm: Mimmo has wounds on his dorsal fin, a sign of the dangers of his stay in such a crowded environment.
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A complex operation to protect it
The authorities, together with marine biologists and volunteers, launched a real mission to lead the dolphin towards quieter areas of the lagoon. The intervention involved patrol boats, inflatable boats, vehicles of the Financial Police, Fire Brigade, local police, civil protection and coast guard – a huge deployment aimed at creating a safe corridor through the use of pingers, acoustic devices that emit sounds that are unpleasant to cetaceans but not harmful. Initially Mimmo seemed to have accepted the route towards the open sea, moving away from the incessant comings and goings of the boats.
Mimmo has gotten used to human presence (and that’s not a good thing)
After about six hours, however, the dolphin reappeared in the heart of the lagoon, as if nothing had happened. Its behavior demonstrates a strong habit of human presence, so much so that it ignores the noise of boats and confusion. This attachment to the city fascinates many, but deeply worries experts: the growing phenomenon of improvised tours that chase the animal, and the rush for selfies, risk seriously endangering its safety. The wounds observed on the fin could in fact be the result of close encounters with propellers or floating structures.
The next steps for dolphin protection
The researchers are planning a new removal attempt, this time using a more intense sound wall, in the hope of convincing Mimmo to leave the lagoon and reach a more suitable habitat. Despite the media hype, dolphins are not a rarity in these waters: they have frequented the lagoon for some time, but it is unusual for a specimen to decide to stay for so long in a highly trafficked area. The priority now is to ensure that human curiosity does not compromise the life of a wild animal which, despite appearing at ease, needs protection and respect.
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