After the friendly dolphin Oliver in the Novigrad Sea pushed a swimmer underwater and nudged bathers away from the shore, the Blue World Institute urgently warns of the dangers of interaction and publishes key behavioral guidelines.
The Blue World Institute issued key guidelines on Monday, August 3, 2026, for safe encounters with the friendly dolphin Oliver, who is currently residing in the Novigrad Sea. The warning comes after the first recorded incident in which Oliver pushed a swimmer underwater, and reports from citizens that the dolphin had been pushing them away from the shore.
Videos have surfaced on social media showing Oliver turning over a swimmer and pushing them underwater. Fortunately, the swimmer was not injured, but the Institute emphasizes that the lack of serious consequences was purely a matter of luck.
In addition to this case, the Institute received reports of situations where Oliver pushed swimmers away from the shore. The individuals had a clear impression that the dolphin was preventing them from leaving the water. "Such behavior is a well-known pattern among solitary dolphins. The animal does not want to be alone, so when people who have been near it try to leave, it may attempt to prevent them from going-blocking their path to the shore or driving them further out to sea," explains the Blue World Institute for 023.hr.
The Institute particularly emphasizes the physical strength of these marine mammals. Adult bottlenose dolphins weigh over 200 kg and are capable of causing serious injuries to humans. The warning was accompanied by a detailed description of potential dangers.
"To prevent similar situations and more serious incidents, we once again urge everyone not to initiate interaction with Oliver and to move away if he approaches. Any further contact could lead to new incidents with potentially much more severe consequences. Adult bottlenose dolphins weigh over 200 kilograms and can inflict serious injuries on humans with a blow from their snout, a powerful strike from their tail fin, or by scraping skin with their teeth-in the same way dolphins use physical contact among themselves during rough play or when reacting to behavior they perceive as a threat or nuisance," the Blue World Institute stated for 023.hr.
To protect both people and Oliver himself, the Institute has published a list of nine key behavioral rules for encounters with dolphins:
The Institute appeals to all visitors to the Novigrad Sea to adhere to these instructions to avoid new, potentially much more serious incidents.
