Claims that Fungi the dolphin has been replaced have been rubbished as the Dingle resident was named the longest living solitary dolphin on the planet.
A study by charity Marine Connection found that among 114 creatures worldwide that enjoy human company and living alone, Fungi is king of the waves.
Jimmy Flannery of Dingle Dolphin boat tours said: “I mean we are running the tours here over thirty years and he has been named the longest solitary dolphin.
“We kind of knew that for a long time, but it’s phenomenal really at this stage.
“People say to me how can it be the same dolphin..It’s quite simple, if you could put a dolphin at the mouth of a harbour and get it to stay there wouldn’t everybody have one?
“You can’t just replace Fungi, when he’s gone he’s gone, but at the moment he’s showing no signs.”
Given the name Fungi by local fisherman, it is believed the bottlenose dolphin arrived to Dingle in 1983 and has since been a huge hit with tourists visiting the area.
However, Jimmy said the friendly dolphin likes to keep a little bit of distance from humans.
He said: “He’s happy, he’s still wild, still feeds himself and does exactly what he wants to do.
“The only reason we get close to him is because it’s his choice and he seems happy and in better form than ever.
“There’s never been an incident with Fungi, he really is a gentle giant.
“He’s quite a big animal, he’s about 13 foot long, a big, big creature but he will always stay just that little bit away.
“Even people at times go into the water with Fungi but he’s not a touchy feely dolphin.
And speaking to RTE One’s Morning Ireland, Jimmy said he believes Fungi will be around for another few years.
He added: “There is no reason for Fungi not to be around for a long time yet.
“A dolphin can live over 50 years and Fungi is somewhere in his early forties so it’s not as unusual as you might think.
From observation of playful body scarring, it seems Fungi does still frequently encounter other whales and dolphins proving perhaps that he is neither true hermit nor outcast from his own kind, but rather that he is simply content with his current circumstances.
Researcher and director of Marine Connection, Margaux Dodds said: “Fungie is a very engaging dolphin who has become an international phenomenon with people traveling from near and far just to catch a sight of this enigmatic marine mammal.
“Who knows why he has chosen to remain in this beautiful sheltered bay for decades, but the town is, I am sure, pleased he has.”
