Monkey Mia, located in Shark Bay, Western Australia, is famous for its friendly dolphins that have been interacting with humans for decades. This area of the Shark Bay Marine Park is home to a thriving population of wild bottlenose dolphins, one of the best dolphin experiences in the world.
But how many dolphins are in Monkey Mia? And what makes this dolphin encounter so special? Let’s find out!
Dolphins in Monkey Mia
The overall dolphin population of Shark Bay is over 2,000 dolphins, mostly Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Of these, around 20-30 dolphins visit the shores of Monkey Mia.
However, only a select group of 5-10 adult bottlenose dolphins, mainly adult females and their dolphin calves, participate in the daily dolphin feeding experience under supervision by the Parks and Wildlife Service. These beach dolphins have been visiting Monkey Mia for generations, making it an Australian tourist icon for nature lovers.
How to Visit
Many visitors from Perth travelling to Monkey Mia book guided Monkey Mia tours that include wildlife cruises, boat tours and exploring Francois Peron National Park. These tours often combine stops at other famous destinations making them a great way to see Western Australia’s coastline.
If you’re looking for a Monkey Mia tour that includes transportation, there are several Perth tours that offer multi-day trips to experience the region’s marine life, national parks and Indigenous heritage.
Why Do Dolphins Come to Monkey Mia?
The Monkey Mia dolphins started interacting with humans in the 1960s when local fishermen started giving them a couple of fish. Over time this became a dolphin feeding program monitored by marine biologists from organisations like the Shark Bay Dolphin Project and the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Alliance.
You can see these wild animals up close during daily dolphin experiences where we give them only a small portion of their daily food intake so they continue to forage in their natural habitat.
Behaviour and Social Lives
Shark Bay is known for its complex dolphin societies and unique dolphin behaviour. Unlike many other dolphin populations bottlenose dolphin parties in Shark Bay are highly social with 2-3 males forming alliances to compete for female dolphins during breeding season.
Research has shown aggression among dolphins can increase in competitive environments especially when multiple adult dolphins are present. Studies by Janet Mann, a leading marine biologist, have shown dolphin communication including the use of dolphin echolocation clicks and dolphin sonar to navigate the water.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to see the Monkey Mia dolphins is during the morning dolphin feeding sessions which are between 7:45 AM and 12:00 PM. These are part of the dolphin research project and are carefully managed to prevent any harmful impacts on the dolphins.
Important Information for Visitors:
- Dolphin Feeding Times: 7:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Dolphin Feeding Price: Included in the Day Permit for Monkey Mia Reserve
- Dolphin Feeding Booking: No advance booking required
- Location: Monkey Mia, Shark Bay, Western Australia
- Facilities Nearby: RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Denham Seaside Caravan Park
If you are planning your trip consider a Monkey Mia tour that includes dolphin feeding, wildlife spotting and a visit to the beautiful Bay Marine Park.
Conservation and Environmental Impact
Keeping the wild dolphins of Monkey Mia safe is our number one priority. Because of concerns about dolphins with food dependency we have strict guidelines:
- Only a bucket of fish is given to selected individual dolphins per session.
- No touching of dolphins by visitors.
- Feeding is supervised by Parks and Wildlife Service staff.
Research has shown dolphin calf mortality is higher in areas with high human interaction. To keep calf survival rates stable the Bay Dolphin Research Alliance monitors all dolphin interactions and enforces guidelines to prevent dolphin injury.
Other Wildlife Experiences in Shark Bay
Beyond the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, there’s more wildlife experiences to be had in the area:
- Wildlife cruises to see offshore dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles.
- Boat tours around Francois Peron National Park and Bay Marine Park.
- Culture walks with Indigenous guides, learning about Shark Bay’s Indigenous culture.
- Exploring the beautiful Kalbarri National Park.
Many Monkey Mia tours also include snorkeling, fishing and exploring coastal waters where dolphin breeding season activity can be witnessed.
How to Get to Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia is a 9 hour drive from Perth. The nearest town is Denham, about a 1 minute drive from the Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience.
If you’re arriving by boat, please note that constant boat traffic and boat noise can impact dolphin sounds and dolphin research. The increased boat launches in the area have raised concerns about dolphins being hit by boats, so conservation is more important than ever.
If you don’t want to drive, there are several Perth tours that offer guided trips to Monkey Mia from Perth, so you can see the area without the hassle of long distance driving.
Final Thoughts
With common bottlenose dolphins in abundance, Monkey Mia is one of the best places in the world to have a dolphin encounter. While only a few beach dolphins participate in dolphin feeding programs, a bigger dolphin population lives in the surrounding coastal waters of Shark Bay.
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a photographer looking for dolphin feed image credits, or just someone looking for a unique tourism experience, Monkey Mia offers the chance to see dolphin communities in their natural habitat.
FAQs
How many dolphins visit Monkey Mia each day?
About 5-10 individual dolphins participate in the dolphin feeding experiences at Monkey Mia and 20-30 wild dolphins visit the area. But the total bottlenose dolphin population in Shark Bay is over 2,000 dolphins.
What time of day is best to see the monkeys?
The best time to see the Monkey Mia dolphins is during the morning feeding sessions from 7:45 AM to 12:00 PM. These sessions are managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service to keep the dolphins wild.
How do I get to Monkey Mia from Perth?
Monkey Mia is 9 hours drive north of Perth. If you don’t want to drive, there are several Perth tours that offer guided trips to Monkey Mia from Perth including Monkey Mia tours with wildlife experiences, boat cruises, and Indigenous culture walks.
Can I feed or swim with the dolphins at Monkey Mia?
Visitors can feed during the dolphin experience but only a few selected people can hand-feed the dolphins a couple of fish under supervision. Swimming with the dolphins is not allowed as it can disrupt their behaviour and cause injury to dolphins.
What other wildlife experiences are available in Monkey Mia?
As well as the dolphin encounters, visitors can experience other wildlife including boat tours to see offshore dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles and other marines. Nearby Francois Peron National Park, Kalbarri National Park and Shark Bay Marine Park offer nature tours, culture walks and boat cruises for a complete holiday experience.