Venice Protects Solitary Dolphin with New Code

In Venice, Italy, officials presented a code of conduct on Saturday to protect a solitary dolphin nicknamed “Mimmo.” The young male bottlenose dolphin arrived in the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea roughly one year ago, first sighted on June 24, 2025, in Chioggia. Biologist Luca Mizzan from the National History Museum of Venice advises people not to seek contact with the dolphin or post photos of it online.

Mimmo has drawn attention from locals and tourists alike, often approaching busy areas or swimming among gondolas and water buses. Experts worry that his social nature leads him to dangerous interactions with boats. The new code, available in Italian and English, recommends maintaining a distance of at least 50 meters and avoiding any attempts to feed or interact with him.

Despite a past injury from a boat propeller, the dolphin appears healthy and has adapted to the busy waterways. Researchers note dolphins once commonly inhabited the Gulf of Venice, even assisting local fishermen. The long-term fate of Mimmo and whether he will rejoin other dolphins remains unknown, but monitoring continues.