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| Roaming bottlenose dolphin Clet turns up off Mull | Roaming bottlenose dolphin Clet turns up off Mull |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A solitary dolphin loved by fishermen in France but suspected of an "attack" on swimmers in the Republic of Ireland has turned up in Scottish waters. | A solitary dolphin loved by fishermen in France but suspected of an "attack" on swimmers in the Republic of Ireland has turned up in Scottish waters. |
| The male bottlenose dolphin was named Clet by locals from Cap Sizun in Brittany where it followed fishing boats between 2008 and 2010. | The male bottlenose dolphin was named Clet by locals from Cap Sizun in Brittany where it followed fishing boats between 2008 and 2010. |
| It has since been seen off Cornwall and in September was believed to have been aggressive towards swimmers in Galway. | It has since been seen off Cornwall and in September was believed to have been aggressive towards swimmers in Galway. |
| Earlier this week Clet was spotted in the sea off Mull. | Earlier this week Clet was spotted in the sea off Mull. |
| The dolphin, which is identified by distinctive scarring on its dorsal fin, was photographed by wildlife photographer Nic Davies close to shore from Craignure on Mull. | The dolphin, which is identified by distinctive scarring on its dorsal fin, was photographed by wildlife photographer Nic Davies close to shore from Craignure on Mull. |
| Dolphin experts have described Clet's journey through European waters and his 372-mile (600km) swim from Galway to Mull as "remarkable". | Dolphin experts have described Clet's journey through European waters and his 372-mile (600km) swim from Galway to Mull as "remarkable". |
| The incident in Ireland on 28 September saw five swimmers taken to shore by the RNLI. | The incident in Ireland on 28 September saw five swimmers taken to shore by the RNLI. |
| Witnesses said the dolphin circled the swimmers then swam at them in an "intimidating way". | Witnesses said the dolphin circled the swimmers then swam at them in an "intimidating way". |
| The swimmers were not injured but were left frightened by the encounter. | The swimmers were not injured but were left frightened by the encounter. |
| The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has described some of the media coverage of the incident as "sensational". | The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has described some of the media coverage of the incident as "sensational". |
| It said solitary dolphins do not pose a threat to people in boats, but could be aggressive towards swimmers. | It said solitary dolphins do not pose a threat to people in boats, but could be aggressive towards swimmers. |
| HWDT added that Clet's appearance off Mull on Tuesday was significant. | HWDT added that Clet's appearance off Mull on Tuesday was significant. |
| Dr Conor Ryan, the trust's sightings officer, said: "To our knowledge, this is the first time that Clet has been recorded in Scotland, and in fact this is the furthest north he has been recorded to date. | Dr Conor Ryan, the trust's sightings officer, said: "To our knowledge, this is the first time that Clet has been recorded in Scotland, and in fact this is the furthest north he has been recorded to date. |
| "Bottlenose dolphins are usually considered to be resident to certain areas, so long-distance international movements such as this challenge our understanding of this species, and also challenge our ability to protect them using Marine Protected Areas alone." | "Bottlenose dolphins are usually considered to be resident to certain areas, so long-distance international movements such as this challenge our understanding of this species, and also challenge our ability to protect them using Marine Protected Areas alone." |
| Photographer Mr Davies said: "I was out photographing otters when I heard a loud blow sound just out from the shore, and then I spotted the dolphin heading at speed towards a departing ferry." | Photographer Mr Davies said: "I was out photographing otters when I heard a loud blow sound just out from the shore, and then I spotted the dolphin heading at speed towards a departing ferry." |
| Padraig Whooley, sightings officer for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said: "We think it's remarkable that Clet's movements can be tracked to the Irish south and west coasts from France via English and Welsh waters, using images from the general public. | Padraig Whooley, sightings officer for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said: "We think it's remarkable that Clet's movements can be tracked to the Irish south and west coasts from France via English and Welsh waters, using images from the general public. |
| "The addition of Scotland after a two-month interval brings his known tally of passport stamps to five countries and counting, and shows the need for international collaboration when trying to monitor these highly mobile marine mammals." | "The addition of Scotland after a two-month interval brings his known tally of passport stamps to five countries and counting, and shows the need for international collaboration when trying to monitor these highly mobile marine mammals." |
| Margaux Dodds, director and co-founder of the charity Marine Connection, identified Clet when he first turned up off England's south coast. | |
| She said that the animal's activity in Galway had been "misconstrued" and its behaviour was a form of defence and not an attack. | |
| Bottlenose dolphins | Bottlenose dolphins |
| Scotland is best known location for bottlenose dolphins is the Moray Firth on the east coast. | |
| The firth and North Sea provide habitat for the world's most northerly resident population of bottlenose dolphins. | The firth and North Sea provide habitat for the world's most northerly resident population of bottlenose dolphins. |
| The species is protected by European Union rules. | The species is protected by European Union rules. |
| The Moray Firth's population was declared as being "stable", according to a report published by Scottish Natural Heritage last month. | The Moray Firth's population was declared as being "stable", according to a report published by Scottish Natural Heritage last month. |
| An estimated 102 individual dolphins used a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the firth during the summer of 2011, 112 in 2012 and 94 in 2013. | An estimated 102 individual dolphins used a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the firth during the summer of 2011, 112 in 2012 and 94 in 2013. |