[Cherie]

(CNN) — As the Irish government moves the country back into a strict, national lockdown for six weeks, an unlikely story continues to break through the endless Covid-19 headlines.
Fungie, a bottlenose dolphin, is missing from the scenic County Kerry coast in Ireland's southwest, where he has lived at the entrance to Dingle's harbor since 1983.
Over the past 37 years, the wild marine mammal has become an Irish celebrity thanks to his friendly nature and love of people, with visitors coming from far and wide to take a boat into the small port town's harbor for a closer look.
But the Guinness World Records title-holder for the "longest recorded solitary dolphin" has not been seen since last Thursday when he swam alongside a fisherman's boat, locals who helped coordinate the search for him told CNN.
Now they are are fearing the worst.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...cli/index.html

[Cherie]

However, Fungie is an estimated 40 years old, and Simon Berrow, chief science officer and acting CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said male bottlenose dolphins have a life expectancy of between 30 to 40 years. He added that Fungie's disappearance was to be expected.
"It was always going to be this way -- Fungie not showing up someday, rather than being found washed up dead in Dingle," Berrow told CNN.

[Ammi]

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

This is so sad, I know he was at the end of his life span but just not now, we need you Fungie

[Oliver_W]

Have they checked his house ? Maybe he's in lockdown.

[Ammi]

...further down in that Twitter feed from above, there was this...but I’m sure it’s meant in a very affectionate way, rather than a ‘troll’ thing...

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...further down in that Twitter feed from above, there was this...but I’m sure it’s meant in a very affectionate way, rather than a ‘troll’ thing...

just Irish humour, my sister sent it to me

there is another one as well of a guy in a dolphin suit, with the caption

starting a new job down in Dingle today

[Ammi]

....yeah I could see it was affectionately said, which is why I felt okay to post it because there was nothing negative attached to any of its sentiments...

[Cherie]

The lovely thing about Fungie is he chose to interact with humans rather than being made to

[Ammi]

...I mean let’s be honest, we’d all swim away if we could to find somewhere COVID free...

[Niamh.]

I know! Poor Fungie, he must have just died I suppose, he's was pushing on. The whole of Dingle will be out of business now though

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I know! Poor Fungie, he must have just died I suppose, he's was pushing on. The whole of Dingle will be out of business now though

don't give up yet Neem

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

don't give up yet Neem

I hope he comes back but he is pretty old for a Dolphin

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I hope he comes back but he is pretty old for a Dolphin

I wonder if that last swim with the fishing boat was his swansong

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I wonder if that last swim with the fishing boat was his swansong

aww maybe, it is very sad , I don't remember a time where Fungie didn't exist

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

aww maybe, it is very sad , I don't remember a team where Fungie didn't exist

No me neither, they must be devastated in Dingle, i'm surprised some marine biologist didn't put a tracker on him though as this would have been inevitable

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

No me neither, they must be devastated in Dingle, i'm surprised some marine biologist didn't put a tracker on him though as this would have been inevitable

ah I'm glad that they didn't, he was always free to come and go and have his own privacy

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

ah I'm glad that they didn't, he was always free to come and go and have his own privacy

That is a good point

[Cherie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54602337

Nice piece on him by the BBC and how he might have ended up staying in the harbour

[The Slim Reaper]

Deilfeanna, deartháir

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Deilfeanna, deartháir

WIll have to look that up no idea what it means

Our Fungie made the 6pm news last night, they showed footage of the lighthouse keeper who first spotted him and Fungie back in the 80s

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Cherie

WIll have to look that up no idea what it means

Our Fungie made the 6pm news last night, they showed footage of the lighthouse keeper who first spotted him and Fungie back in the 80s

Dolphins, bruh.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

WIll have to look that up no idea what it means

Our Fungie made the 6pm news last night, they showed footage of the lighthouse keeper who first spotted him and Fungie back in the 80s

Shame on you Cherie

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Dolphins, bruh.

Brother*

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

WIll have to look that up no idea what it means

Our Fungie made the 6pm news last night, they showed footage of the lighthouse keeper who first spotted him and Fungie back in the 80s

They even had subtitles for him on the Irish news