Intriguing findings involving a lone dolphin in Fairlie bay adapting to life with porpoises have been published in a scientific paperwork .

Sorcha Cantwell, who has written articles in the ‘News’ in the past about her work as a medic at British Divers Marine Life Rescue, had submitted sightings of ‘Kylie’ the dolphin based in Fairlie bay.

The paper has gained significant interest on the basis that it is believed to be highly unusual to have this interaction between the two species, but has been spotted in the Clyde. 

The dolphin has been resident off Fairlie and Largs in recent years, and there has also been sightings in Loch Fyne before that, and video footage emerged of Kylie with a porpoise in 2015 - it is able to be identified because it has a small symmetrical nick on its dorsal fin. 

However, the ‘News’ can reveal that the Clyde Marine Mammal Project have been keeping a close eye on porpoise activity in the Clyde, and it would appear that Kylie the dolphin has been interacting with the porpoises, and has even modified its communication.

The ‘News’ understands that acoustic data is currently being gathered that indicates Kylie is modifying its vocalisation to speak within porpoise frequencies.

David Nairn of the Clyde Muirshiel Mammal Project said: “It is exceptionally rare for common dolphins to interact in this way. We have been recording the dolphin’s vocalisations to determine if it is adapting or modifying its clicks or whistles away from what would be considered normal common dolphin sounds.”

David has added that boat owners should act sensibly, avoid interactions, and give the mammal a wide berth if you spot it.

He said: “It is a solitary dolphin trying to strike up friendships with porpoises which won’t be able to achieve with boats hounding it. Steer a straight course, keep a constant speed, and please leave the animal alone.”

We recently reported how the local waters of the Clyde are believed to host among the highest densities of porpoises in Europe.

Using a hydrophone since June which measures the amount of porpoises in the Clyde by listening to them, porpoises squeak at a very high frequency at 150Khz, away above our hearing range, and it is picked up with a clicking noise.