The basin is one of the most trafficked areas of the city, far from an ideal habitat for the mammal.
A solitary dolphin has become the star of the Venetian lagoon in northern Italy.
The creature has been sighted in the waters of St Mark’s Basin, the area directly in front of the homonymous square, for several months now.
Christened Mimmo, the bottlenose dolphin has charmed residents and tourists with its acrobatics, leaping and diving between gondolas and waterbuses.
But the seemingly joyous antics (which are actually a way to communicate, spot food, dislodge parasites or increase speed) are masking potentially serious health and safety issues.
The basin is one of the most trafficked areas of the city, far from an ideal habitat for the mammal.
Experts are also questioning why the dolphin is alone, given that the species normally lives in pods of multiple individuals.
Venice lagoon dolphin may have become disoriented
Videos of Mimmo have flooded social media. Water taxis reportedly chase after the creature at the behest of tourists, and there are even impromptu tours being organised to spot it.
But concerns are growing for the animal’s welfare. Given the heavy boat traffic, the creature is at risk of colliding with a propeller and injuring itself.
It may also be experiencing stress from the elevated levels of engine noise, which could be compromising its ability to orient itself and communicate with other dolphins.
Dolphins navigate using echolocation, a sophisticated system of sounds and echoes that allows them to reconstruct their surrounding space.
The lagoon is a kind of acoustic trap, with engine noise, underwater structures and the shouts of people creating confusion. As one Italian paper put it, “For a dolphin, Venice is the equivalent of a nightclub with no exits.”
Experts worry that the cetacean has become disoriented and lost contact with its pod.
According to biologists at the Natural History Museum in Venice, Mimmo has been periodically entering and exiting from the open sea since July, attracted by food and movement.
However, lately he has been remaining for longer and longer periods, seemingly trapped.
Authorities are working to guide the dolphin out to the open sea
The Coast Guard has appealed to boats not to approach Mimmo and to maintain a distance of at least 50 metres.
A ‘Save the Dolphin’ campaign has been launched, urging against feeding the creature or attempting to gain its attention by throwing objects into the water.
"We taxi drivers radio each other where we see the dolphin to warn each other to be careful," one resident told Italian press.
"But not everyone is so careful. Some throw him a ball and some chase him with their boats, ignoring the recommendations and regulations for his safety."
Authorities, including the Cetacean Strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Coast Guard, are working to aid Mimmo’s return to open sea.
They are monitoring the animal, and confirm that for the moment it is eating normally and exhibiting normal swimming and breathing patterns.