There are approximate 25 species of Dolphins
and each species has its own distinct personality and behaviors. Some of the
species are easily kept in huge aquaria and it is there that we can learn much
about these amazing animals. The
Bottle Nose Dolphin is the most studied of all Dolphin species. We have about 6 species here in the Andaman Sea that show up regularly.
Bottle Nose Dolphins in an aquarium.
When
traveling in the open ocean, Dolphins can cruise at 30 kilometres per hour.
Scientists thought there must be something special about their skin. Now we
know that Dolphin swimming muscles are very powerful and the high speed comes
from lots of hard work. Dolphins also leap out of the water when swimming fast;
they do this to increase their average speed and save energy.
Dolphins use a range of
clicks, whistles, and squeaks to communicate with each other and to locate both
prey and predator. Sending out sounds and waiting for their return creates a
picture in the Dolphin’s mind similar to our sight. The process is called
echolocation.
Clicks to home-in on a fish
meal may be produced at 1,000 every second. When the prey is close some
Dolphins use a very loud ‘pop’ to stun it and make the catching easier. With
all that swimming a Dolphin eats about 10-15 kg of food each day.
Dolphins travel in groups
called pods. Males spend a lot of time fighting with each other to determine
who will be boss and get the best females for mates.
All of the males keep watch
over the females so they can’t swim away to another pod. If they try to escape,
they are bitten or hit by the males’
Dolphins do things we can’t
understand. These Dolphins have learned to slide up onto the bank to eat the
mud. Are they searching for minerals in their diet or does it just taste good? Because they learn by copying, they all use their right side and they have
all worn down their right teeth. This has gone on for generations.
Being a Dolphin can be
dangerous! Killer Whales and Tiger Sharks both prey on Dolphins. Seventy percent of wild Bottle Nose Dolphins
carry some form of scars from fighting or escaping from predators.
A Killer Whale attacks a Dolphin and its calf with such force that they are thrown out of the water.
There is continuing debate over the ethics of keeping Dolphins in captivity.
On the one side, it's safe to say that there would probably be little protection of wild Dolphins today if some weren't kept where people could see them. Understanding brings protection in our world.
On the other hand, Dolphins are thinking, self aware, social animals that normally travel great distances every day. Is it fair to keep them in an artificial environment?
