Rockingham Wild Encounters calls for public help to name two dolphin calves born at Shoalwater Islands Marine Park

Rockingham Wild Encounters is asking for the public’s help to name two dolphin calves born recently in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

One is six weeks old, and the other just three weeks old.

RWE group operations manager Simon Gardner said the calves were doing very well and displaying some interesting typical baby dolphin behaviour.

“They are doing something called chin or head slapping, which is their attempt to rise to the surface and take a breath — something that becomes much more flowing and graceful as they get older, when they only expose their blowhole not the whole head,” he said.

“The mothers are nearly always seen with the calves, however sometimes other female dolphins can be seen doing some babysitting while they hunt and feed.

“The calves are learning life skills all the time from their mothers, feeding, socialising, travelling and fighting. It’s great to see the mothers so relaxed around our boats, bringing them over to show them off, and is testament to the trusting relationship we have developed over the last 30 years.”

However, the two dolphins have not yet been named, and the public are being asked to help with the task.

Winners will be rewarded with tickets to a swim with wild dolphins tour from Rockingham Wild Encounters, worth $410.

Names can be submitted to info@dolphins.com.au and entrants are asked to list the reason why they are putting forward the names they choose.