Sweet second dolphin nicknamed Mimmo is noticed displaying off for vacationers in Venice

Tourists in Venice have been treated to more views than usual in recent days – with  ‘Mimmo’ the dolphin snapped showing off for cameras. 

The last time marine mammals were spotted in the UNESCO World Heritage city’s lagoon was in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when two appeared while boat activity was reduced due to restrictions.

Mimmo has become a regular visitor in the waters off Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, where it first entered the lagoon in late June.

Since last month, the bottlenose dolphin has managed to dodge water buses, taxis, and gondolas, according to marine biologist Luca Mizzan.

Mizzan explained Mimmo remains unfazed by the different noises of boats and crowds, and unusually remains around the busy St. Mark’s Basin.

He said even when the dolphin feeds, it stays nonchalant.

But experts fear it could get injured by marine traffic and are keeping an eye on Mimmo’s movements.

Mizzan added at this stage, they remain unsure on how to safely move it from the area.

Mimmo the bottlenose dolphin showing off for two men on a boat in Venice’s UNESCO World Heritage lagoon

Head of Venice’s Natural History Museum, marine biologist Luca Mizzan questions if the lagoon will soon become unattractive to Mimmo with winter on the way when first tend to leave the area

Speaking with The Times, Mizzan said: ‘We’re perplexed since this is not normal behaviour. The dolphin is confident it can avoid boats, however, it’s dangerous. 

‘All it needs is one boat reversing suddenly, while the noise from engines must create total confusion underwater.’

With winter on the way, fish tend to leave the area, which Mizzan questions whether the lagoon will become less attractive for Mimmo.

He hopes this will help encourage the dolphin to return to the open sea.

Mizzan added there’s no way to force Mimmo away: ‘This animal seems really sure of what it wants to do.

‘It is perfectly capable of going out to sea, but even if we were to escort it, it could come back within a couple of hours.’