Meet the friendly dolphins of Monkey Mia for breakfast as they visit the shallow waters each morning.
The wild dolphins that visit Monkey Mia and voluntarily approach humans are a natural phenomenon and exceptionally rare worldwide. The dolphins have been visiting the beach at Monkey Mia since the early 1960s when fishermen began to feed the dolphins when they returned with their catch.
Seven dolphins regularly visit the beach and up to 20 dolphins visit the beach intermittently. Researchers are able to recognise more than 100 of the dolphins that live in the waters of Shark Bay.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has established an interaction area at Monkey Mia that protects the dolphins and provides supervised human interaction. The Department employs rangers to feed the dolphins and to manage visitors to the Monkey Mia Visitor Centre.
The Monkey Mia Visitor Centre provides visitors with information on the management of the health and well being of the dolphins. The centre also gives visitors the opportunity to contribute to the care and maintenance of the dolphins and their unique marine environment. The centre incorporates informative displays that provide visitors with insights into the world of the bottlenose dolphin.
The ranger on duty advises visitors of feeding times and appropriate viewing behaviour.
The Aboriginal name for Shark Bay is Gathaagudu and it means ‘two waters’.
While you’re visiting Monkey Mia, discover how the local Malgana people have survived in Gathaagudu for thousands of years by taking an Aboriginal cultural walk with Wula Guda Nyinda.
Location: Monkey Mia is located within the Shark Bay Heritage Precinct, which is 700 kilometres north of the city of Perth.
Department of Environment and Conservation
Shark Bay World Heritage Site
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
Australia’s Coral Coast