Dolphin sighting near Gladesville Bridge at Parramatta River
A dolphin sighting has delighted swimmers and boat passengers along an unlikely waterway — the Parramatta River.
A dolphin sighting has delighted swimmers and boat passengers along an unlikely waterway — the Parramatta River.
The creature was spotted frolicking near Gladesville Bridge at Drummoyne on Sunday.
Matthew Ward was swimming with his friend when saw what he initially thought was a shark near the end of the marina.
“One of my friends spotted it and said ‘Oh my God, there’s a shark’, but it wasn’t a shark,” he said.
“There were one or two boats following it and it was headed east to the city.”
Mr Ward said in the 40 years he had lived in the area he had never seen a dolphin.
“I’ve seen dolphins at Bondi, a seal at Bondi but I’ve never seen them that far up the river,” he said.
“It’s like when you see whales migrating — it’s a captivating thing to see.”
It’s not the first time such creatures have surprised the public.
In 2015, a pod of dolphins swam at Putney and Silverwater — a part of the river more known for its industrial activity.
The news excited Parramatta River Catchment Group following the spotting at Silverwater in 2015.
“The presence of dolphins is an indication that there is more fish in the river, which shows that the ecological health of the Parramatta River is improving,’’ chairman Mark Drury said.
The group has a target to make the river swimmable by 2025.
Sites earmarked for swimming are Putney Park, McIlwaine Park at Rhodes and Bayview Park in Concord.
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