Shark Bay, part 4

2 April 2012

March 31st.

A very early rise, just before the sun actually, and off to Monkey Mia for the dolphins feed. I’m not a fan of feeding wild animals such as sharks, crocs or dolphins as it tends to force a habit into them that human equals food (either humans provide, or humans are the food, in the case of crocs or sharks) but anyways, a long convo last night with Lia tells me this one is quite different. Dolphins get only 1.5kg of food each, there’s very little interaction, you’re not allowed to touch but they do come to you, and it’s all part of research…

Still, it’s worth seeing. Dolphins up close, and I do mean up close, as in 30cm from you. It’s just magic. These guys are as smart as you and I, can shut down one half of their brain to let it sleep, recognize you, look at you straight into your eyes, there’s little words to describe it.
First feed is at 8AM, there is about 100 tourists standing on the beach and only four dolphins came in today. But as most people left when the show was over, a second group of mammals show up for the second feed an hour later, and there is now just under 30ppl around. Bonus : twelve dolphins today !! I go for a swim a bit further, hoping one of them might come and say g’day but no such luck…

Back to Denham for ADSL and some photos on the blog (which you’ve all seen I do hope by now) and off I go, on the North West Coastal Highway to the next town : Carnarvon. No free camping tonight, bummer.

Man I need a shave !

Distance today: 392km, total: 7738km.