Kerrie Searle - Animal Communicator

08/02/2026

05/02/2026

Friendship isn’t just nice to have... it even changes how dolphins age.

Research has found that male bottlenose dolphins with strong social bonds age more slowly at a cellular level than more solitary dolphins.

Scientists from UNSW analysed wild dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia, using DNA markers known as an epigenetic clock. This method estimates biological age, offering insight into overall health rather than just years lived.

The study found that males who maintained close, long-term friendships showed slower biological ageing, likely because social bonds reduce stress and improve survival. These friendships can last decades, with males hunting together, resting side by side and protecting one another.

Source: Ge**er, L. et al. (2025). Social bonds slow biological ageing in male bottlenose dolphins. Nature Communications Biology.

28/01/2026

The Queensland Government has killed a family of six dingoes on K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, with plans to kill four more.

This follows the tragic death of 19-year-old backpacker Piper James on the island. A coroner’s report found Piper had been bitten by dingoes prior to her death, but concluded that drowning was the most likely cause.

Piper’s death is devastating, and her family deserve action so that this never happens again.

But killing 10 native dingoes is not action. It’s about keeping tourist dollars flowing.

Traditional custodians — the Butchulla people — were not consulted before the dingoes were killed and conservationists warn this reaction by the government will not fix the underlying problem.

For years, the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation has been calling for visitor numbers on the island to be capped, as dingo interactions with humans continue to rise.

While dingoes may look like dogs, they are a completely different animal. They are native apex predators, playing a vital role in the island’s ecosystem.

On K’gari, dingoes are being forced into close and unavoidable proximity to humans. Until we address this, we are putting people and dingoes at risk.

For Piper, and for the dingoes. We must do better. 💔

15/01/2026

Last week was a brutal start to the year in Taiji Cove.

Early in the week, around 50 bottlenose dolphins were driven into the Cove. Trainers from the Whale Museum attended, appearing to assess young males for captivity. No dolphins were taken that day, and the pod was later released resulting in a blue cove. But later in the week,17 melon-headed whales were driven into the Cove and killed. Hunters later intercepted a large pod of striped dolphins at sea. One group escaped, but around 40 dolphins was driven into the Cove and killed.

After the morning slaughter, boats returned to sea and drove short-finned pilot whales into the Cove. Double nets and floodlights were installed, trapping them overnight. The following day, 9 pilot whales were killed.

This is what continues to happen in Taiji, driven by demand from captivity and a trade that still hasn’t ended.

Sign the petition to help end the Taiji dolphin hunts: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0vycy0

With thanks to Kunito Seko for documenting and sharing these events.

31/12/2025

Last week in Taiji:

• 1 red cove day
• 6 blue cove days

Nineteen melon-headed whales were slaughtered during the single red cove day.

The blue cove days were not a sign of mercy, they were caused by poor weather and hunters taking a holiday. The season is ongoing, and the threat remains.

The captivity industry continues to fuel these hunts.

Sign the petition calling for an end to the Taiji hunts: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0tts90

Thank you to Kunito Seko for continuing to document the Taiji hunts.

26/12/2025

Last week in Taiji (15–21 December), no dolphins were taken for captivity or slaughter.

However, one yellow cove day was recorded. Yellow cove days involve research activity rather than hunting, including the tagging of wild cetaceans. While classified as non-lethal, these activities still involve close human interaction with wild animals and raise important questions about disturbance and welfare.

We continue to monitor and document all cove activity in Taiji, because transparency matters.

Help end the Taiji hunts. Sign the petition: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0s-hJ0

Thank you Kunito Seko for standing by the cove each day, tracking animal captures, and sharing footage.