Goodbye Fungie

Fungie, a dolphin that has brought magic and tourism to Dingle since the day he befriended a local fisherman 37 years ago, has not been seen near the Irish harbour town for weeks. Many people around the world are mourning. 

I was commissioned to photograph Fungie in 2006 by the German magazine Mare. First he was nowhere to be seen, and suddenly he leapt out of the water right next to us. It was very challenging to capture the moment because you don’t know where he might appear and when. And the boat was hobbling in the waves too.

I can understand the people in Dingle missing him painfully. Even my short encounters have endeared me to a dolphin that has chosen humans as lifelong friends. 

Goodbye, Fungie.

Fungi jumps to greet boatman Laurence Benison in Dingle harbour, County Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland. In 1984, the lone dolphin was observed escorting the fishing boats. The fishermen named him Fungi. Within months, he had become such a fixture that local officials declared him a permanent resident. For more than 20 years, Fungi has stayed in the harbour and befriending humans, becoming one of Ireland’s top attractions. Every summer, Dingle town’s 3,000 inhabitants are overrun by tourists, who have come to see Fungi on boat trips. Fungi, a male bottlenose, is around 30 years old. He weighs about 250 kilos and is about four metres in length.
Fungi pops up in Dingle harbour, County Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland. In 1984, the lone dolphin was observed escorting the fishing boats. The fishermen named him Fungi. Within months, he had become such a fixture that local officials declared him a permanent resident. For more than 20 years, Fungi has stayed in the harbour and befriending humans, becoming one of Ireland’s top attractions. Every summer, Dingle town’s 3,000 inhabitants are overrun by tourists, who have come to see Fungi on boat trips. Fungi, a male bottlenose, is around 30 years old. He weighs about 250 kilos and is about four metres in length.
Boats carrying tourists track Fungi in Dingle harbour, County Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland. In 1984, the lone dolphin was observed escorting the fishing boats. The fishermen named him Fungi. Within months, he had become such a fixture that local officials declared him a permanent resident. For more than 20 years, Fungi has stayed in the harbour and befriending humans, becoming one of Ireland’s top attractions. Every summer, Dingle town’s 3,000 inhabitants are overrun by tourists, who have come to see Fungi on boat trips. Fungi, a male bottlenose, is around 30 years old. He weighs about 250 kilos and is about four metres in length.
Dingle harbour, County Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland, home of the famed dolphin Fungi. In 1984, the lone dolphin was observed escorting the fishing boats. The fishermen named him Fungi. Within months, he had become such a fixture that local officials declared him a permanent resident. For more than 20 years, Fungi has stayed in the harbour and befriending humans, becoming one of Ireland’s top attractions. Every summer, Dingle town’s 3,000 inhabitants are overrun by tourists, who have come to see Fungi on boat trips. Fungi, a male bottlenose, is around 30 years old. He weighs about 250 kilos and is about four metres in length.
Fungi jumps to greet boatman Laurence Benison in Dingle harbour, County Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland. In 1984, the lone dolphin was observed escorting the fishing boats. The fishermen named him Fungi. Within months, he had become such a fixture that local officials declared him a permanent resident. For more than 20 years, Fungi has stayed in the harbour and befriending humans, becoming one of Ireland’s top attractions. Every summer, Dingle town’s 3,000 inhabitants are overrun by tourists, who have come to see Fungi on boat trips. Fungi, a male bottlenose, is around 30 years old. He weighs about 250 kilos and is about four metres in length.