Fungie the dolphin is missing - Or is he?

Stone Deaf 4evr wrote: »

Has anyone actually taken one of the boat trips out to see him?
did it a few years back and it was honestly one of the most surreal things I ever did, there were 3 or 4 boats with tourists on them, and then one smaller boat with a lad hanging off the back, doing fast turns and splashing the water in an attempt to get the dolphins attention, but it felt more like he was being corralled. Both myself an they wife both felt a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing afterwards, it felt a bit more like we were harassing the dolphin rather than observing him.

I've done it. It was fairly surreal alright. Never seemed like they were corralling him in the slightest though, he was swimming about, diving down and coming back to the surface wherever the hell he wanted, while a whole fleet of far less agile boats desperately tried to follow him like some kind of Benny Hill sketch. Occasionally he jumped up next to one of the boats but it seemed very much on his terms, he was well easily capable of diving under the water then popping up 30 seconds later on the opposite side of the bay. The boats couldn't control his movements if they wanted to.

I also did some reading up on it at the time, there's been about half a dozen similar dolphins around the world known to have made their home in bays near humans. Fungi is the only one that didn't end badly, mainly due to strict rules that were maintained around not feeding him, not letting lots of people in the water with him, and basically leaving him to live as a proper wild animal. Other examples tried to pen them in, or lure them to spots that were better for viewing, or have loads of tourists swim with the dolphins, all of which ended up with the dolphins acting aggressively towards people who were invading their space.

Found an article on it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series1/lone-dolphins.shtml

Pretty daft basing a whole industry on a dolphin. He's 45 years old. Probably died of old age.

bertiebomber wrote: »

Maybe funghi just buggered off with a recent visiting pod or was eaten by a whale also visiting.;
All they are worried about is their dollars in kerry - ireland has very little empathy for any money making animal: farm animals greyhounds, pet dogs, racehorses the zoo in dublin and funghi. We are a nation of users and abusers where animals are concerned. Swim away funghi and dont look back to shreiking children and greedy boatmen swim away and enjoy your life.

You would swear he was held captive against his will !

Has anyone asked Joe? Maybe he can ask Funghi to make contact!

He was a little fish in a big pond.
Pissed off some of the bigger fish.
Now sleeps with the fishes.

6541 wrote: »

How do we know Fungie is a He ?

Disgusting the amount of people assuming Fungi's gender in this thread :mad:

Sorry if asked before, but how many are there of these boating companies that revolve around taking tourists out to view the dolphin?

The wake will probably be held in Dingle and should be mighty craic altogether.
The viewing and service will be held in the cannery,where world leaders, local big wigs, sushi dealers,the poor and the despondent, will unite together in common grief, and Covid, before heading off to the nearest Shebeen where sea shanties shall be sung until the break of day.
Flags at half mast and fishing nets put away for the day.

SouthWesterly wrote: »

Has anyone asked Joe? Maybe he can ask Funghi to make contact!

make contact you say?

bertiebomber wrote: »

funghi is a fish and maybe has been eaten by a bigger fish its just nature. People are so mental in the world these days is frightening its a fish its gone move on Dingle the cash cow has given you the 2 fins !!

Dolphins are mammals.