Destination WA - Dolphin Discovery Centre

Episode: Episode 11 (13/01/19)

Dolphin Discovery Centre

Segment: Dolphin Discovery Centre
Presenter: Carmen Braidwood
TX Date: 13th January 2019

Just a 90-minute drive from Perth, Bunbury’s Dolphin Discovery Centre is home to an exciting hands on dolphin experience.

The Centre is situated on the Koombana Bay foreshore. Fresh from a recent makeover, the immersive experience features interactive displays, activity centres and tours for people of all age groups.
The Centre aims to share their knowledge of marine life and Koombana Bay’s native dolphins with the world. The wild bottlenose dolphins have been coming to the area for years, with mornings being the best time to see them. You can also check them out from the eco boat tour, or even swim with them in the wild.
One of the main goals of the Discovery Centre is to promote research and conservation of all marine life native to the area, with important wildlife rehabilitation work taking place onsite.
Turtles often arrive to the park very sick, having washed up on the beaches after storms. The workers at the centre have to focus on warming up their body temperature, rehydrate them, as well as check for broken bones and parasites.
One of the main dangers to all marine life is plastic, with the animals thinking it’s food and trying to eat it. Only one in a thousand turtles survive from hatching through to adulthood, and there are not many turtles left.
Conservation and research are hugely important to the Discovery Centre, as they want to ensure the sustainability of all of the marine creatures. They educate visitors to the centre on how to care for the environment and the animals.