THE SOLITARY dolphin sighted on the peninsula is believed to be one of a kind, with no similar records of female dolphins being found by experts.

As authorities continue to express concern about the dolphin's welfare, and the safety of people who interact with the animal, it remains unclear as to why the dolphin is not linking up properly with its own kind.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service co-ordinator of marine fauna programs Geoff Ross said the animal had consistently favoured contact with humans rather than dolphins, since it was first spotted in September 2012.

News_Image_File: The solitary dolphin at Palm Beach.He said the dolphin has been showing concerning behaviours, and cautioned people not to interact with the animal for their and the dolphin's safety.

The dolphin, a female bottlenose believed to be about four years old, was originally spotted in September 2012 at Sussex Inlet, about 200km south of Sydney near Jervis Bay.

It is believed the dolphin was led into the inlet by a pair of male dolphins, but couldn't work out how to get out after the males left.

With no other dolphins in the area, the animal began interacting with humans, becoming an attraction of sorts for the area.

News_Image_File: Alex Hayes took photos of himself playing with the dolphin.Authorities weren't worried, Mr Ross said, until people started grabbing onto the dolphin, riding it and even throwing things at it to attract its attention.

The dolphin also reportedly bit a small child. It's understood the dolphin was being playful.

"National Parks wasn't overly concerned about that until it reached a point it was becoming dangerous for the animal," he said.

"When a person interacts with a wild animal ... the risks to people are quite high."

Dolphins are normally born into a pod, and form their own pods as they get older. Their behaviour relating to other dolphins can vary, Mr Ross said. Some migrate between pods, moving from one to another at different stages in their lives while others can stay with one pod for its entire life.

In a small number of cases, dolphins become "solitary", meaning they do not engage with other dolphins and appear to prefer interaction with humans.

This normally happens with males dolphins, which can be ousted from their pods. Mr Ross said he couldn't find any record of a female dolphin behaving like this.News_Image_File: The solitary dolphin has delighted onlookers, but created concerns for public safety.

After seven months stuck in Sussex Inlet, Parks and Wildlife decided to return the dolphin to the open ocean. It was expected the dolphin would rejoin a pod, but it never did.

Now, the dolphin has made a number of appearances on the upper northern beaches.

On several occasions, the dolphin has engaged with people and boats, swimming and playing with amazed onlookers.

Mr Ross said he feared for the safety of people, and the dolphin, if people continued to engage with the animal.News_Image_File: Lone dolphin spotted at Church Point, photo: supplied

"What we're facing over Christmas holidays is all these people going out and swimming with her, and that could create a situation that might not be comfortable and may trigger a serious response (from the dolphin)," he said.

Shona Lorigan from the Organisation for the Rescue and Rehabilitation of Cetaceans in Australia was also worried about a bad reaction from the dolphin.

"As she gets older, she will become stronger and behave more like a wild dolphin, so she could lash out," she said.

"She may lash out and she could do someone some terrible damage."



News_Image_File: Lone dolphin spotted at Church Point, photo: suppliedThere have been a number of concerning reports involving solitary dolphins around the world.

In South America, a swimmer was killed while swimming with a solitary dolphin, when the animal struck the man with its tail.

In New Zealand, a woman had to be rescued after a solitary dolphin named Moko refused to let her back into shore. She was found clinging to a buoy screaming for help.

Mr Ross repeated advice to people not to chase, touch or feed the dolphin.

Ideally, people should leave the water if the animal approaches.

NPWS officers would be out in the area to monitor activity with the dolphin, Mr Ross said, and would issue fines if necessary. It is an offence for a boat to be within 5

News_Module: Dolphin sightings

0m of a dolphin, and for a swimmer to be 30m.

Interacting with people also made the dolphin less likely to reunite with other dolphins, which was to the animal's detriment, Ms Lorigan said.

"The more she interacts with humans, there is less chance of her interacting with wild dolphins," she said.

"We're really hoping we can get the message out that continued human interaction really isn't good for this animal in the long term."