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Dolphins in the Patawalonga
Billie and tail walking
One of the first dolphins recorded in the Patawalonga was Billie. In January 1988, she became trapped in the Pat. She was removed and placed in captivity for a short time. Fortunately, Billie was released back into the sea at West Beach.
Billie spent most of her life in the Port River. She became one of South Australia’s most famous dolphins due to her unique behaviour of swimming with racehorses and her amazing tail-walking antics.
Tail walking is when a dolphin leaps out of the water vertically and moves backwards on its tail.
Other dolphins in the Patawalonga
Dolphins are regularly seen travelling along the metropolitan coastline. Most of the dolphins that have been observed in the Pat were first identified in the Port River, which is part of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
Tiffany was one of the dolphins that travelled between the Port River and the Pat. Over the years, she was regularly seen in both areas with two of her calves, Summer and Galaxy.
Lartelare was another dolphin observed travelling between the Port River and the Pat. In June 2015, she was seen with her new calf June in the Port River. Volunteers were excited to see them spending time in the Pat a few months later. Interestingly, June has often displayed behaviour similar to the tail walking observed from Billie and her friends in the Port River.
Dolphins can be identified by their dorsal fins. Through identification, we know which dolphins are entering the Pat and how often they visit the area.
Dolphins in the Patawalonga
Billie and tail walking
One of the first dolphins recorded in the Patawalonga was Billie. In January 1988, she became trapped in the Pat. She was removed and placed in captivity for a short time. Fortunately, Billie was released back into the sea at West Beach.Billie spent most of her life in the Port River. She became one of South Australia’s most famous dolphins due to her unique behaviour of swimming with racehorses and her amazing tail-walking antics.
Tail walking is when a dolphin leaps out of the water vertically and moves backwards on its tail.
Other dolphins in the Patawalonga
Dolphins are regularly seen travelling along the metropolitan coastline. Most of the dolphins that have been observed in the Pat were first identified in the Port River, which is part of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.Tiffany was one of the dolphins that travelled between the Port River and the Pat. Over the years, she was regularly seen in both areas with two of her calves, Summer and Galaxy.
Lartelare was another dolphin observed travelling between the Port River and the Pat. In June 2015, she was seen with her new calf June in the Port River. Volunteers were excited to see them spending time in the Pat a few months later. Interestingly, June has often displayed behaviour similar to the tail walking observed from Billie and her friends in the Port River.
Dolphins can be identified by their dorsal fins. Through identification, we know which dolphins are entering the Pat and how often they visit the area.
Keep in mind when watching dolphins

Dolphin identification
The easiest way to identify dolphins is to look a their dorsal fins. They are often slightly different triangular shapes and many have notches, nicks and cuts.
JuneJune is the dolphin we see most often in the Pat. He can be recognised by his tall dorsal fin which had a crescent shaped notch out of the top of the trailing edge.
SummerSummer occasionally visits the Pat. She has a wider dorsal fin and can be recognised by the multiple notches in the trailing edge of her fin.
JuneJune is the dolphin we see most often in the Pat. He can be recognised by his tall dorsal fin which had a crescent shaped notch out of the top of the trailing edge.
SummerSummer occasionally visits the Pat. She has a wider dorsal fin and can be recognised by the multiple notches in the trailing edge of her fin.

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