Anniversary of the passing of Opo

Fifty years ago tomorrow marks the passing of New Zealand's most loved wild dolphin, Opo of Opononi. Opo was a bottleneck nosed dolphin who appeared in the harbour around the Far North town of Opononi in 1955, and who decided humans could be interacted with without fear.

During the summers of 1955 and 1956, Opo would play amongst swimmers at Opononi beach, letting kids play with her and even ride on her back. Apparently she would leap into rings formed by children holding hands, and would flip balls and catch them again, to the great delight of onlookers.

Opo was always special to my family because my mother got to swim with her too.

Opo died tragically in 1956 but is remembered with a memorial at Opononi. There will be a memorial gala on April 1st at Opononi.