Putting
dolphin "aggression" into perspective
DISCLAIMER:
DolphinLovers.com is carrying this article in order to
present a well rounded set of facts about Dolphins.
Author:
Carma Haley Shoemaker
Published on: October 1, 1999
Original title: Friend or Foe: Dolphin Aggression
We didn't like that title, so we changed it. :-)
In the past few months
there have been reports of dolphins “attacking”
humans that have come to interact with them. The latest
are those of a 12 year old girl, a 34 year old woman,
a 26 year old mother of two, and a 10 year old boy. All
of these victims were not seriously injured, but were
very frightened by their experience.
Dolphins, as well as other
mammals, have a natural instinct regarding eating, mating,
and social interaction. By humans coming into the world
of dolphins they may interrupt the dolphins routine. This
may be distressing to the dolphins, which may show this
by attempting to get the human to flee, as they would
with anything else they see as a threat.
According
to the research department at Sea World in Ohio, male
dolphins may become aggressive toward a human female when
they sense the hormones that are released in the female
human body prior to menstruation. Out of the 24 reported
cases of “dolphin aggression” in the last
5 years, 22 were directed toward females that were of
an age to experience monthly menses. The other two were
younger boys, and it is thought that the young boys may
have been too aggressive themselves in interacting with
the dolphins, or may have been afraid. Another theory
of why dolphins attack males is simple, and may be deemed
as “natural”. The dolphins would interact
with the males, and then, at the time for the interaction
to cease, the dolphin would attempt to keep playing by
keeping the male in the water with them.
Dolphins
have the capabilities of “sensing” fear, as
well as varied “emotions” exhibited by both
humans and other mammals. There are numerous reports of
humans being “rescued” by dolphins when they
become distressed in oceans or bays. The dolphins do this
by sensing the fear and distress in the human and then
attempting to assist them to safety. The dolphins will
grab one of the human’s limbs, usually a lower limb,
and pull them in the direction of the shore or shallow
water. Dolphins may also push the human with their snout.
Not knowing their own strength in relation to the human,
these rescuing techniques may cause injury, especially
if the human struggles or fights back.
In
addition, a majority of the cases of “dolphin aggression”
occur in captive settings. Places such as “Dolphin
Encounter” (http://www.wun-sentinel.com/showtime/des...
and “Coastal Living, (http://www.coastallivingmag.com/destinat...
offer travel packages that include personal interaction
with dolphins. Places such as these that allow a person
to “swim with the dolphins” are a dream come
true for those that love dolphins and wish to learn more
about them on a personal level. However, before making
arrangements with any such place, research should conducted.
A facility that offers one hour interaction time limits,
a trainer in the water with the visitor when interacting
with the dolphin, and classroom type learning BEFORE allowing
anyone to interact is one that will be safe, and allow
for the best experience.
If
you should encounter dolphins in the wild, following a
few “rules” will ensure your safety…and
the memory. Allow the dolphin to come to you. Do not chase
the dolphin, it may see you as a threat and react accordingly.
Keep your hands and feet as still as possible. Dolphins
do not have protruding extremities and they may become
very curious about yours. Dolphins satisfy their curiosities
by using all of their senses, including taste. Do not
touch the dolphin. If the dolphin wants to feel you or
for you to feel it, it will rub itself against you. Keep
the interaction to a short period of time, no longer then
one hour. As stated earlier, dolphins have instincts that
tell them what to do and when to do it. Interacting for
any long period of time will distract the dolphin from
this routine and it may become aggressive in attempt to
make you flee. Lastly, if you are lucky enough to interact
with a mother and calf, do not attempt to touch, or interact,
with the calf in any manner. The mother will become very
protective. Mothers will defend their young, at all costs.
Interaction
with dolphins can allow for a memory that will last a
lifetime, if it is done correctly. The organizations and
facilities that allow human / dolphin interaction are
making changes that will ensure safety for all visitors
and dolphin lovers alike. Allowing only female dolphins
to interact with human females, and assigning a professional
trainer to each dolphin are just two of the changes that
are being made to ensure a safe and exciting adventure
for all. Following the rules, and using common sense will
only prove to protect the visitor, and the dolphin.
Remember,
when humans go into the water to interact with dolphins,
we are in their world, and we must play by their rules.
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© 1996-2003 Creative Marketeam Canada Ltd. doing
business as Suite101.com
Reprinted from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4895/26242
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