VENICE — A playful visitor has captured the attention of tourists and locals alike in Venice’s iconic St. Mark’s Square waters. A wild dolphin, affectionately nicknamed Mimmo, has been swimming through the busy lagoon, delighting crowds but also worrying experts about its safety.
Dolphins rarely venture into Venice’s UNESCO World Heritage lagoon. The last sightings were in March 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions when boat traffic had slowed. Mimmo, believed to have entered the lagoon in late June, has been weaving through water buses, taxis, and gondolas in the St. Mark’s Basin, seemingly undisturbed by the constant noise and human activity.
“Unusually, the dolphin stays near St. Mark’s even after feeding and doesn’t seem bothered by the crowds or boats,” said marine biologist Luca Mizzan, head of Venice’s Natural History Museum, in an interview with RAI public television.
While tourists are enchanted, experts are concerned for Mimmo’s safety. The lagoon is bustling with traffic, and the dolphin could easily be injured by a boat propeller. Authorities are closely monitoring its movements, but there’s no clear method to encourage Mimmo to leave.
As winter approaches, the lagoon will likely have fewer fish, which may naturally prompt Mimmo to return to the open sea. Mizzan emphasized, however, that the dolphin seems to know what it wants.
“This animal seems really sure of what it wants to do. It is capable of going out to sea, but even if we were to escort it, it could come back within a couple of hours,” Mizzan said.
For now, Venice visitors continue to delight in the rare spectacle, witnessing a wild dolphin navigating one of the world’s busiest and most historic waterways — a delicate balance of wonder and concern.
Mimmo’s story is a reminder of the fragile interplay between wildlife and human activity in Venice’s iconic canals, sparking awe, curiosity, and a deep respect for nature’s unexpected visitors.
