Skip to main content
Adopt a dolphin

Violet

Violet is one of Port Phillip’s remarkable common dolphins (Delphinus dephis), and was named after a very special supporter.

Violet was first seen in Port Phillip in 2015. In early 2020, she became a first-time mum and spent the next one and a half years raising her young calf in the protected waters of the Bay.

We know Violet is a mother by finding her repeatedly in photographs with a little calf, like this one here taken in December 2020. When calves are first born, they have light stripes on their bodies called foetal folds, which are left from creases in their skin as a result of being curled up before birth. These folds fade completely by 4 months. The lack of folds on Violet’s calf in this photo tells us it is several months old.

Read an update on Violet here.

Adopt-A-Dolphin is a wonderful gift for a loved one, yourself and of course, our dolphins and bays.

DRI gives dolphins a voice - our family a voice - and a positive way to support marine life and conservation.

Loyal donor.

Adopt-A-Dolphin members receive a certificate with a glorious image of Poke on the front (as above) with more information about Poke and our other resident dolphins on the back. Packs also include our most recent Snapshots, whale and dolphin information and a Dolphin Distancing sticker. Child packs inclue a dolphin moneybox and a sun hat.

Membership is for 12 months and is comprised of a $10 membership and a $88 tax-deductible gift. On the anniversary of joining, we send an invitation to renew support, which can be sent to you or the recipient of your gift, depending on your choice. (Postage is additional, if you chose to have a package delivered).

Adopt-A-Dolphin supporters become Associate Members of the Dolphin Research Institute and receive news, updates and VIP invitations to Institute events and more!

Watch DRI rescue an entangled calf in Port Phillip.