A wild dolphin has been repeatedly spotted in the waters off St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. Nicknamed “Mimmo” by local press, the animal has become a favorite of tourists and locals alike. However, as Reuters reports, Mimmo’s refusal to leave has experts concerned for its safety.
Dolphins are rarely seen in the waters around St. Mark’s Square, the public square at the heart of Venice. Despite that, Mimmo is believed to have entered the area in June or July, likely having followed a school of fish into the waters. He was then nicknamed after the sailing instructor who first spotted him. Since then, he’s been dodging the lagoon’s heavy water traffic of water buses, taxis, and gondolas, and becoming a local celebrity in the process.
However, while the visitor has been welcomed by Venetians, experts are concerned for the animal’s safety. Due to the frequent boat traffic in the area, Mimmo is at risk of boat strikes and propellor injuries. In fact, the L.A. Times reports that experts verified from wounds spotted on the dolphin that it has likely already been hit by a propeller. For that reason, they are contemplating how to encourage the visitor to leave – but a solution remains elusive.
“This animal seems really sure of what it wants to do,” Venice’s Natural History Museum head and marine biologist Luca Mizzan told Reuters. “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.”
