Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia is a popular tourist destination located about 900 km north of
The main attraction are the
History
Mia is the local Aboriginal term for home or shelter, while the Monkey part of the name is allegedly derived from a pearling boat called Monkey that anchored at the now Monkey Mia in the late 19th century, during the days when pearling was an industry in the region. However, the Geographic Names Committee, hosted by Landgate (the Western Australian Land Information Authority) has stated that the most likely origins of the name are that it was included in a list of Aboriginal names and their meanings supplied by the Geraldton Police Station in approx 1899 (the meaning of the name is given as "Salt or bad water") or after the pet monkeys owned by early Malay pearlers who camped at the location, or as a colloquialism for "sheep",[2] or that it was named for a schooner called Monkey that arrived in 1834.
The area was originally
In November 1990, the waters adjoining Monkey Mia were declared a marine park and are managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Since then, more attention has been given to the Aboriginal roots of the area and their knowledge of the local land. For visitors, the most visible evidence of this change is the culture walks, where visitors are taught to respect the land.[4]
Tourism
Up to 100,000 tourists visit the area each year.[5] They come mostly to see the dolphins.[5]
Dolphin feeding
A small pod of dolphins from a larger super-pod regularly swim to shore up to three times a day, and on average seven or eight dolphins regularly visit, with up to 20 others visiting less frequently; it can take several years before they gain the confidence. Park rangers closely supervise the interaction and hand-feed fish to the dolphins. Visitors are urged not to touch the dolphins.[6] Due to strict management, only five adults are fed and provided no more than 10% of their daily dietary intake.[7]
Research
Monkey Mia is also the laboratory location for extensive behavioural and biological research on
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-7316-7982-9
- ^ Farnsworth, Clyde (14 October 1997). "Monkey Mia Journal; Like to Meet a Wild Dolphin? This Is the Place". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Preston, Diana (21 March 2004). "Flippers for Breakfast". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Carter, Terry; Lara Dunston (5 March 2007). "Walk Softly into Aboriginal Culture". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Meet the Monkey Mia Dolphins".
- ^ "Shark Bay Organisation".
- ISBN 978-0-7307-6804-3
- ^ Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management; Shark Bay (W.A. : Shire). Council; Western Australia. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management; Shark Bay (W.A. : Shire) (1993), Monkey Mia Reserve : draft management plan, The Dept, retrieved 9 August 2019