Moreton Island Wildlife
Dolphins, Dugongs & Turtles
Wildlife of Moreton Island
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) sits within the protected waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park, one of Australia’s most diverse marine environments and an extraordinary place to encounter wildlife just off the coast of Brisbane.
The bay’s sheltered waters, extensive seagrass meadows, reefs and sandy banks provide habitat for wild dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, rays, fish and hundreds of other marine species.
On a See Moreton day tour, you’ll have opportunities to search for wildlife during our Marine Discovery Cruise and encounter the underwater world while snorkelling the wrecks. These are wild animals in their natural environment, so sightings can never be guaranteed, and that’s part of what makes every encounter special.
Wild Dolphins on Moreton Island
Can you see dolphins at Moreton Island?
Yes. Moreton Bay is home to resident dolphin populations, including Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and Australian humpback dolphins.
Bottlenose dolphins are regularly encountered throughout Moreton Bay and may be seen travelling, feeding, socialising or riding the wake of our boats. Australian humpback dolphins favour shallower coastal waters, bays and estuaries and are generally less commonly encountered.
Our crew keep watch for dolphins throughout the day, with the dedicated Marine Discovery Cruise providing another opportunity to search for them in the waters surrounding Moreton Island.
Bottlenose Dolphins
Cruising the bay we sometimes encounter the rare and threatened indo-pacific humpback dolphin. Their unique appearance and name derive from fatty tissue that accumulates on its back forming a narrow hump. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins can also be identified by their triangular dorsal fins. The World Wildlife Federation estimates that “Populations of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin are thought to be small, numbering less than 100 individuals.” Marine biologists have reported that they will behave as subordinates to their larger “cousins”, the Bottlenose dolphin in feeding interactions.
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) was originally owned by the Ngugi Aboriginal people, who lived in harmony with the sand and sea for thousands of years before British invasion. During WWII, the island became part of a coastal fortification, during which time some developments were made including the instalment of a naval base and a jetty.
With the relocation of the Ngugi to Stradbroke Island and some time spent as a whaling station, Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) and Tangalooma Wrecks have a rugged past. Today, you will find a place that is truly flourishing; where wildlife and visitors interact harmoniously and the lands are respected for their Aboriginal heritage.
Into the world of Dugongs
Moreton Bay is one of Australia’s important dugong habitats and is particularly special because Moreton Bay Marine Park is the southern limit for dugongs along Australia’s east coast. Queensland Parks also describes it as the only place in the world where dugongs occur this close to a major capital city.
Often called sea cows, dugongs spend much of their time feeding on seagrass. Moreton Bay’s extensive seagrass meadows provide important feeding habitat for these shy marine mammals. Spotting one requires a keen eye. Dugongs often appear as a large dark shape beneath the water before briefly surfacing to breathe.
Where can you see dugongs near Brisbane?
The shallow banks and seagrass habitats of Moreton Bay are among the best places to look. Queensland wildlife authorities specifically identify Moreton Bay as a dugong stronghold where they can be sighted from boats.
Protecting the Dugong
Dugongs can be found in herds of up to 300 individuals around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) gently grazing on sea grass. It is estimated that 800 dugongs live around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin), the only herd of dugongs in the world close to a city. Despite these seemingly large numbers, dugongs are vulnerable to extinction.
Dugongs rely on a substantial diet of sea grass, a marine plant that can only thrive in crystal, clear water, as it requires sunlight to live. Intensive conservation efforts over the years have seen legislation and action aimed at preserving the pristine waters around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) and protecting the Dugong. The Dolphins in Paradise management and crew are proud to have participated in these efforts over the years. We especially welcome the chance to showcase these amazing animals on our eco-cruise and suggest ways to help on our educative marine commentary.
Into the world of Turtles, Rays, & much more
Moreton Bay Marine Park is renowned for its abundance of life. The Tangalooma Wrecks in particular are teeming with sub-tropical sea creatures amongst an artificial reef featuring varieties of colourful corals. Nearby Flinders reef hosts the largest array of sub-tropical species of coral along Australia’s east coast.
Search the shipwrecks for glimpses of blue ringed octopus or the elusive wobbegong, a harmless and beautifully leopard-patterned species of shark.
Can I see Turtles at Moreton Island?
Moreton Bay is an important habitat for sea turtles, which can often be spotted surfacing to breathe or swimming through the clear shallow waters surrounding Moreton Island.
The site’s existing content identifies green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles among those commonly encountered around the island. The wrecks, reefs and seagrass habitats around Moreton Island create opportunities to see turtles both from the vessel and while snorkelling.
Keep watch for smaller dark shapes moving beneath the surface, sometimes the first sign of a turtle swimming below.
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