Mimmo the Dolphin: Venice’s Acrobatic Visitor Stuck in a Dangerous, High-Traffic Lagoon

Mimmo the acrobatic dolphin has captured Venice’s heart — but he may be in danger

Venice has been enchanted for months by a wild dolphin nicknamed Mimmo, whose aerial flips have drawn tourists and locals alike to the lagoon. While his playful displays delight onlookers, experts warn that his prolonged presence in the busy St. Mark’s Basin puts him at significant risk.

Teams from the University of Padua and other agencies have been monitoring Mimmo closely after his arrival in the Venetian lagoon on July 23. Veterinarians discovered superficial wounds consistent with a boat propeller strike — the first injuries observed — and say those lesions should heal, but the animal’s proximity to heavy boat traffic remains a serious concern.

Attempts to steer him back to open water

Authorities briefly deployed low-intensity acoustic devices to nudge Mimmo away from St. Mark’s Basin, a shallow stretch in front of St. Mark’s Square that links to the Giudecca and Grand Canals and is crowded with ferries, vaporetti, water taxis and private craft. The devices worked only temporarily: Mimmo returned within an hour, as specialists had feared.

“It’s very worrying because it’s a hot spot with lots of boat traffic,” said Guido Pietroluongo, a veterinarian with the University of Padua’s emergency response team for stranded dolphins, whales and porpoises (CERT).

Who is Mimmo and why is he here?

Experts believe Mimmo fits the profile of a “social loner,” typically a young male that temporarily separates from its pod to feed or socialize and sometimes encounters human environments. He likely followed a school of fish into the brackish lagoon waters, separated from the Adriatic Sea by barrier islands. He was nicknamed after the sailing instructor who first spotted him near Chioggia.

Veterinarians report Mimmo is in generally good condition and feeding on local species such as mullet, sea bass and sea bream, and that his behavior, including flips, appears normal. The monitoring team visits weekly and receives frequent citizen reports with photos and videos.

Risks and guidance for the public

Officials are not planning an immediate capture or forced relocation. Instead, they hope seasonal cooling and changes in prey movement will encourage Mimmo to leave the lagoon and return to the open sea. In the past, acoustic deterrents successfully guided two striped dolphins back to the Adriatic in February 2021.

Authorities strongly warn the public not to feed, touch, or deliberately approach Mimmo. Interacting with dolphins is illegal under Italian, EU and international law and can lead to criminal penalties. Stopping or clustering boats to watch the dolphin can stress him and raise the risk of further injury.

Citizens are encouraged to report sightings to the University of Padua team rather than getting close: share photos or videos from a distance to help experts keep track of the dolphin without disrupting him.

What to watch for

• Do not feed, touch, chase or swim with Mimmo.
• Keep a safe, respectful distance and allow authorities to do their work.
• Report sightings to local wildlife or CERT contacts and provide clear photos/videos from shore or from a stationary, distant boat.

With careful public behavior and continued monitoring, experts hope Mimmo will safely return to open water on his own.