Get down to Richards Bay’s dolphin viewing platform this Saturday
ZO editor-in-chief Dave Savides is holding an informal education session about the endangered Humpback dolphin
SCORES of Zululanders remain unaware of the dolphin viewing platform at Richards Bay’s Alkantstrand, and exactly what an environmental gem the resident Humpback dolphins are.
With only 500 of these rare and endangered dolphins left on the South African coast, and with their highest prevalence in Richards Bay’s waters, sighting these mammals is a treat indeed.
Situated at the end of the long pier at Alkantstrand, the dolphin viewing platform is the prime spot in the country to view this species.
On Thursday the ZO asked Zululanders if they had visited the dolphin platform and, after many responses indicating that many people are not even aware that one could spot dolphins in the Bay, Editor-in-chief Dave Savides has offered his services in educating members of the public on these creatures.
He will be available between 6am and 10am tomorrow (Saturday) to pass on some of his knowledge about this endangered dolphin species, including the best times of day they can be seen.
Part of the Humpback dolphin research, Dave spends some time every day at the platform, photographing the dolphins for ID purposes.
To aid studies of the species, researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand were in 2017 given a video camera and hydrophone (underwater sound recorder) by the KZN Sharks Board.
This equipment indicates that late afternoons and early mornings are the most likely times the dolphins are around.
Another clue is that they favour turbid, dirty water, so don’t let wind and rain put you off.
