Sex: Female

Birth Date: Bess was born in the mid 1970’s and has unfortunately passed on, we believe from old age.

Position in Pod: Pod Matriarch, Mother of Rani and Nari.

History: Bess is a female dolphin who has had 2 calves that we know of. Both of these calves still visit us at Tangalooma and are called Rani and Nari.

ID Features: She was quite easily recognised by her uniquely shaped dorsal fin. The trailing edge (back edge) of her fin was very corrugated. She was quite dark in colour and was almost 3 meters in length.

Personality/traits: Bess was a very cautious mother and although she bought Nari in at only 2 days of age, she would often keep her calves out in the deeper water.
Bess was a very placid dolphin and would not be involved with other dolphins confrontations. It is due to her unique personality, that Shadow started to provision, even after her mother passed.