Fungie

Fungie (/ˈfʊŋɡi/), also known as the Dingle Dolphin,[2] 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.[3][4]

This article is about an individual dolphin known for sightings in Ireland. For eukaryotic organisms, see Fungi.
Fungie
Fungie in 2007
SpeciesCommon bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
SexMale
BornBefore 1980
Years active1983–2020
Known forInteraction with humans, long life
ResidenceDingle harbour and nearby waters
AppearanceTriangular-shaped nick on dorsal fin
Named afterA local fisherman who was teased for his attempt to grow a beard, who was nicknamed "Fungus"[1]
AwardsWorld's oldest solitary dolphin
Statue of Fungie outside the Tourist and Information Office in Dingle.

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8]

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. [9] 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".[10]

References
  1. "FUNGIE FAQ - IrishDolphins.com". www.irishdolphins.com.
  2. "Dingle Dolphin Tours - Boat Trips to see Fungie the Dingle Dolphin in Dingle Harbour County Kerry Ireland". Dingle Dolphin Tours. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  3. "Fungie, the Dingle Dolphin". Dingle Peninsula. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  4. "Dingle's dolphin – meet Fungie". Ireland.com. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  5. "All About Bottlenose Dolphins - Longevity & Causes of Death | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment". seaworld.org.
  6. "Dingle and the Dolphin Fungie - What You Need to Know". TripSavvy.
  7. "Fungie is officially the world's oldest solitary dolphin". The Irish Times. 2019-10-01.
  8. "Longest recorded solitary dolphin". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  9. Mac an tSíthigh, Seán (17 October 2020). "'This is serious now' - Concern over Fungie wellbeing". RTÉ News.
  10. "Legacy of Dingle dolphin Fungie to live on in dedicated eco-tours". independent. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
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