Dolphins still up Cudgen Creek

National Parks and Wildlife ranger Josh Madden.

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Dolphins in Cudgen Creek

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MARINE authorities will once again try to move three dolphins unwilling to leave Cudgen Creek back out to sea early tomorrow morning.

Sea World, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS ), NSW Fisheries, NSW Maritime, Australian Seabird Rescue, NSW Police and public volunteers will try to herd the dolphins out of the creek at high tide about 6.30am.

It follows a failed attempted to move the inshore bottlenose dolphins on Friday after they had been in the creek under the Sutherland Street Bridge for more than a week.

A fourth dolphin which appeared in the creek on Sunday has since made its way back out to sea.

NPWS Tweed area manager Nathan Oliver said the dolphins, two adults and a calf, appear reluctant to move from the area of deep water about a kilometre inland.

“The dolphins have been assessed by experts from Sea World and Southern Cross University and appear to be in good health,” Mr Oliver said.

“An exclusion zone has been established around the dolphins and is being monitored.

“It is important that people do not approach the dolphins due to personal safety issues and possible stress to the animals. The public have been very cooperative to date and we thank them for it.”

Mr Oliver said there were a number of possible reasons why the dolphins are refusing to move.

“A likely reason is that the younger dolphin is apprehensive about returning along the shallower sections of the creek,” he said.

“We are in close liaison with marine mammal experts and will continue working with them to protect the dolphins.”