TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three pantropical spotted dolphins safely departed Penghu’s Xiyu Harbor on Tuesday morning after spending several days near shore under observation by conservation groups and authorities.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the event showed Taiwan's significant progress in marine conservation, noting that Xiyu Harbor was once known for dolphin drive hunts, per UDN.
Kuan wrote in a Facebook post that dolphins are now valued by both residents and fishermen, and praised the cooperation between the government, the Taiwan Cetacean Society, and volunteers who monitored the dolphins’ movements until they departed safely.
The OAC said it received reports of the dolphins entering the harbor on Thursday and immediately activated the Marine Animal Rescue Network monitoring mechanism to track the animals’ behavior and condition. The dolphins showed no obvious external injuries.
Two were observed swimming and breathing normally, while one displayed signs of abnormal behavior.
Experts suspect the dolphins may have entered the harbor after becoming disoriented, and the group’s prolonged stay could have been influenced by harbor terrain, ocean currents, or environmental disturbances.
Authorities added that cetaceans are highly social animals that often remain together to protect or accompany one another. Officials said one dolphin might have had health problems or disorientation, leading the group to stay together.
The three dolphins successfully left the harbor Tuesday morning during high tide and returned to open waters, according to the Coast Guard. It thanked conservation organizations and volunteers for providing guidance and conducting on-site monitoring while minimizing human interference during the operation, per UDN.
According to the Coast Guard, pantropical spotted dolphins are agile marine mammals recognizable by the increasing number of spots that appear on their bodies with age and by their pale-colored snouts. Adults typically measure between 1.8 and 2.6 meters in length and weigh between 100 and 140 kilograms.
It said the species is highly alert and difficult to approach in the wild. Because they are rarely kept in captivity, the dolphins retain strong instincts and move rapidly in open waters.
The Coast Guard described the dolphins’ safe departure as a successful example of adhering to principles of “non-disturbance, continuous observation, and assistance only when necessary.”
Authorities urged the public to report injured, trapped, or otherwise distressed dolphins and whales through the Coast Guard emergency hotlines 118 or 1999.
