Overview
- On November 15, the Capitaneria di Porto led a coordinated operation using portable pingers, hydrophones, and steel‑tube percussion to form a sonic corridor in the Bacino di San Marco.
- The dolphin, known as Mimmo, initially moved toward deeper, less trafficked waters near the Giardini della Biennale, then the Canale dell’Orfano and Isola delle Grazie, before going untracked and later being reported back in the basin.
- Authorities say monitoring will continue in the coming days to determine whether the animal relocates to the open sea or returns to the high‑traffic area.
- Researchers from the University of Padova’s CERT team report Mimmo is a 5–6‑year‑old bottlenose dolphin with two dorsal‑fin wounds consistent with impact trauma and at risk from boat traffic and tourist approaches.
- Planners intend to repeat the effort with fixed pingers that use artificial intelligence to emit sound only when the dolphin approaches, creating a longer‑term deterrent.