“This is a wild animal and if it is threatened it will act on instinct and could unintentionally hurt someone. Ultimately, if that happens the animal may need to be taken into captivity, which is not what anyone wants ... No matter how well-meaning people are, humanising it further could mean that it is unable to form lasting bonds with other dolphins, which leaves the animal isolated and more susceptible to predation by sharks.” The dolphin has mainly appeared in recent days at Shelly beach, alongside Manly beach – one of the country’s best-known beaches.