Beloved Dolphin 'Mimmo' Becomes a Focal Point for Concern in Venice
A wild dolphin, affectionately nicknamed 'Mimmo' by local media and tourists, has become a regular but worrying sight in the historic waters near Venice's St. Mark's Square. While his presence brings joy to onlookers, marine experts are growing increasingly concerned for his safety amidst the dense and constant traffic of boats in the area.
An Unusual Visitor in the Lagoon
According to marine biologist Luca Mizzan, head of Venice's Natural History Museum, Mimmo is believed to have entered the UNESCO World Heritage lagoon in late June. For the past month, the dolphin has been navigating the bustling St. Mark's Basin, a challenging environment filled with water buses, taxis, and gondolas. Dolphins are a rare occurrence in the Venetian lagoon, with the last sighting of two individuals recorded in March 2021, a period when boat activity was unusually low due to Covid-19 restrictions.
What makes Mimmo's behaviour particularly unusual, as Mizzan explained to RAI public television, is that he remains in the area near St. Mark's even after feeding and shows no signs of being disturbed by the constant noise from boats and crowds.
Growing Fears for Mimmo's Safety
The primary danger to the dolphin comes from boat propellers. Experts fear that a collision could cause a serious or fatal injury. While they are actively monitoring Mimmo's movements, they admit they are uncertain about how to persuade him to leave the safety hazard of the busy waterways.
Luca Mizzan suggested that the approaching winter could offer a natural solution. As the season changes, it normally drives away the fish that form Mimmo's diet, potentially making the lagoon less attractive and encouraging him to return to the open sea of the Adriatic. However, he was clear that there is no viable way to force the animal to depart.
"This animal seems really sure of what it wants to do," Mizzan stated. "It is perfectly capable of going out to sea, but even if we were to escort it, it could come back within a couple of hours." This statement underscores the complex challenge facing wildlife conservationists, balancing the dolphin's apparent autonomy with the very real risks posed by its chosen habitat.
