Crookedfin lineage

Crookedfin, aptly named for her crooked dorsal fin, was an original Monkey Mia beach dolphin.

Crookedfin started visiting the beach sporadically in the 1970’s, but it was clear that she did not like to visit the beach when the male alliance of Sicklefin, Snubnose and Bibi were around. However, after the three males died from exposure to pollution from a septic tank leakage in 1989, she visited frequently up until her death in 1992.

Puck was most likely Crookedfin’s first surviving offspring and visited the beach sporadically in the 1970’s and 80’s. However after her first calf (who died within days) was born, she became a regular visitor and appeared to like human contact. Puck had five calves after that; the next two, Petal and Pépé, died within a couple of months after birth. Her fourth calf, Piccolo, was the first to survive to weaning. Piccolo, born in 1992, was the first calf born to a provisioned mother to survive and show an interest in people at the beach. Piccolo is very close to her mother, and they spend much of their time together, both at and away from the beach. Puck and Piccolo probably have the strongest mother-daughter relationship in Red Cliff Bay.  Puck passed away in the spring of 2019, leaving behind a great legacy and a large family.

For more information on this family visit The shark bay Dolphin Project  - Crookedfin lineage 

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