Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

OC Woman Reunites With Her Dingle Dolphin BFF

fungi_dolphin.jpg

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

This will not do the story justice. You'll have to watch the video. OC woman Coley Pittman on a recent trip to Dingle, Ireland was reunited with her dolphin BFF. Dingle, a town of 1,900 humans and 500,000 sheep, is also home to a "solitary dolphin" named Fungi that reportedly lives on its own without seeking other dolphin companionship. Pittman visited Fungi several times over the past 12 years to swim with the wild, 12-foot bottlenose dolphin. When she arrived on the shore, five years since her last visit, and called for the dolphin, Fungi jumped straight out of the damn water. True.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today