What is Dusty's age?
Again I tread a slippery path. This question ranks high on my FAQs. I used to call upon a sloppy account in which Dusty was estimated to be 12 when first she was spotted at Doolin in 2002. Possibly this was because of one of the many persistent observations of her being seen, always by somebody else, pushing a dead calf.
Dolphins are supposed to become sexually mature between 6 and 10 years old. If the 'dead calf' allegation were true, she would have been at least 7 years old, as the gestation period of a dolphin is 12 months. Since then she has been at Doolin for another year, three years at Fanore, one in the Boathouse bay, one at green Island and three at White Strand. That would make her at least 16 and at most 20 years old.
If, however, the 'dead calf' allegation is not true we have to count down from the time we have known her to be sexually mature. The first time she was definitely spotted associating with other dolphins was on October 15th last year at White Strand. If at the time she would be sexually mature in the ultimate year, she would have been 10, meaning she was one year old when she first appeared in Doolin.
As a new-born dolphin is about a metre long and Dusty was roughly estimated about two metres long in 2002, the first year in Fanore, 10 years is perhaps too low an estimate. In a pod, dolphins do a lot of socialising, including sexual intercourse. We know so much for certain that Dusty has been living alone since 2000 and as she has not partaken in social life it is probable that she is late in this respect, meaning she would not have matured until, say 12.
The calculations above are based on the recorded 6 to 10 years for a dolphin to become sexually mature.
Dolphins in the wild are very hard to track. This suggests the estimate is derived from observations of captive dolphins. As they are kept in considerably confined spaces compared to the boundless space of the open seas, stress may induce late-flowering of sexual maturity. That pushes her age down to say 5. That's quite impossible as she has been with us now for 9 years.
Even when we deduct a year from the maximum 10 years, that would mean she was newborn in 2001.
Then another hypothesis comes in view. Suppose the 6 to 10 record is too soon for wild dolphins. That could mean that in dolphinaria dolphins mate earlier as they are herded into a considerably smaller environment and possibly 'do it' out of boredom. This supports the theory that she is older than 10, even possibly older than 12, as she was self-supporting from the beginning of being spotted in Doolin.
All these calculations are loosely based on assumptions and not very reliable. Personally I don't think her age is that interesting. Would you want exactitude then you would have to remove one of her teeth, saw it through and count the year rings, like in trees. Such dentistry would classify as harassment and is illegal. If you really want to know, you have to wait until her demise.
Much more interesting is the promise of new life. If Dusty is pregnant indeed, she'd give birth around mid-October. The last time I swam with her, she allowed me to rub her belly. We haven't done that since she left Fanore, 2005. I saw no sign of her belly getting heavier, but she behaves rather irritated at times. This, however, may also be caused by the speedboats that come over from the direction of Galway. She does not only enjoy going over and racing them, but there is also definitely something compulsory in that. Last time I saw this happening she eventually came back to Pollenawatch, very shifty and nervy, lashing her fluke on the water and pushing two women out with her beak for no apparent reason.
There seems to be no legal enforcement to prohibit boat drivers from harassing the dolphin. We can only appeal to their common sense and implore them to leave her in peace. She patrols the area roughly along the Coast Road as far as about a mile offshore. Please keep out of that area if you don't want a tragedy on your conscience.