A lone dolphin that has become famous for popping up around the UK coast and as far away as the west coast of Ireland has returned to the sea off Falmouth this week.

‘Clet’, a solitary male bottlenose dolphin, is easily recognised due to the distinctive damage and scarring to his dorsal fin. Originally named by local fishermen from Brittany in France, he used to follow fishing boats on the continent between 2008 and 2010.

Since then he has travelled extensively around Cornwall, Devon, Wales and the West Coast of Ireland.

Last November he spent a few months in Scotland, before returning to the southwest via the Isle of Man in early January.

A couple of weeks ago he was spotted at Portland Harbour in Dorset, and now he has returned to Falmouth.

Falmouth Packet:

Caz Waddell, acting marine conservation officer from Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “We’re very lucky in Cornwall that bottlenose dolphins can be seen quite regularly all around our coasts. However Clet is somewhat unique; a bit of a lone ranger.

"His travels throughout the UK and Europe are truly remarkable, and the best part is that the majority of his movements have been tracked simply by members of the public sending in photographs.”

Bottlenose dolphins tend to live together in groups, or pods, and are usually considered to be resident to a certain area. Long-distance international movements are unusual, but there are no signs that Clet is any the worse off for his adventures.

Ruth Williams, marine conservation manager from Cornwall Wildlife Trust added: “Clet has been seen in five countries since he was first recorded in 2008. The fact that he travels such large distances really challenges our understanding of the species, and also highlights the need for international collaboration when monitoring and protecting these highly mobile marine mammals.”

Have you seen Clet? Send in your marine wildlife sightings to Cornwall Wildlife Trust by phone to 01872 273939 or online at www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/marinesighting