BRIJUNIDOLPHINS

THE DOLPHINS OF BRIJUNI

The waters around Brijuni National Park are home to wild bottlenose dolphins, and the Brijuni dolphins are among the most frequently seen in the whole Adriatic. They are not kept or fed by anyone. They live, hunt and raise their young freely in the sea around the islands, just a short boat ride from Pula.

Here is what you should know about them.

DOLPHINS OF THE ADRIATIC

Around ten species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in the Adriatic, but only two are native: the bottlenose dolphin and the short-beaked common dolphin. The common dolphin has disappeared from the northern Adriatic, so the bottlenose dolphin is the one you will meet here. It is intelligent and social, and usually lives in small groups.

WHY THEY LOVE BRIJUNI

In 2022 the Blue World Institute monitored the dolphins in Brijuni National Park from July to November. They found dolphins all over the park, more often than in other parts of the Adriatic, and estimated that around 245 dolphins use the area. Most of them had been recorded before, which shows that they keep coming back over the years.

The dolphins spend most of their time in the western part of the park, where they feed and raise their young. Fishing is restricted in the national park, so there is plenty of fish, and that is a big reason why the dolphins like it here. Brijuni is only part of their home, though, as they move freely along the coast of Istria.

HOW TO SEE THEM

The best way to meet the Brijuni dolphins is from a boat in the evening. On our Dolphins at Sunset tour we sail from Pula harbour towards the Brijuni islands, and near the islands our captain slows down and everyone starts watching the water. We meet them on more than 8 out of 10 trips, and sometimes, curious as they are, they come right up to the bow and swim along with the boat.

Dinner is served on board before sunset, and then you watch the sun go down into the sea with a glass of wine in your hand. The tour lasts three hours, leaves about three hours before sunset and runs from April to the end of September.

Dolphins are wild animals and nobody can promise them. If they stay hidden, you still enjoy a cruise along Brijuni National Park and the sunset over the sea.

PROTECTING THE DOLPHINS

The biggest threats to the dolphins are pollution from land, overfishing of the fish they eat and noise from boats, which disturbs them and their communication, especially in the summer season. That is why our captain slows down near the dolphins and lets them decide how close they want to come.

Every year on 5 August, Brijuni National Park celebrates Dolphin Day, to remind everyone how special these neighbours are.