Although it would seem natural for dolphins to connect primarily with their own species, there is evidence that some dolphin species are interested in interacting with people while playing.
All the same, regardless of how unusual it might be when compared with other animal species, there is a stack of good scientific evidence that documents curious and friendly dolphin behaviour involving human beings, which is probably enough to support the idea that dolphins have an affinity for humans.
Dolphins are extremely playful animals and often swim close together, sometimes even touching fins.
Sometimes they are curious and want to play with us, so we engage them. But other times, even if we are being respectful and giving them distance, they show us that they don't want us around. “Dolphins are social animals. They are not friendly all the time.
It seems that play may have evolved to help young dolphins learn to adapt to novel situations in both their physical and social worlds, the beneficial result being a set of abilities that increases the likelihood that an individual survives and reproduces.
Although it would seem natural for dolphins to connect primarily with their own species, there is evidence that some dolphin species are interested in interacting with people while playing. Dolphins are incredibly curious in the wild, and they will frequently interact with humans if the opportunity arises.
Unlike many other animals, dolphins do not mate purely for procreation. Rather, these highly social and intelligent animals have sex for pleasure as well. Further, this means they can have sex throughout the year, rather than being limited to a mating season.
In reality, dolphins have saved humans on many occasions. In two (sort of) similar incidents, one in 2004 and one in 2007, pods of dolphins circled imperiled surfers for over thirty minutes in order to ward off aggressive great white sharks.
Dolphins are very tactile and social. They show affection for each other by rubbing each other with their pectoral fins. When actual mating occurs, it is completed very quickly, with the two dolphins swimming belly-to-belly during intercourse.
Although dolphins may seem curious, many of their behaviors are often misinterpreted as “friendly” when they actually are, in fact, signs of disturbance or aggression. If a dolphin approaches you in the water, do not engage, pursue, or otherwise interact with the dolphin, and take immediate steps to move away.
Even though equipped with a huge smile and a seemingly forever-harmonious disposition, dolphins and whales are wild animals. Always remember this fact. DO NOT TOUCH the dolphins. If the dolphins want physical contact with people, they will initiate it.
Dolphins may look like they're happy to us, but their “smiles” are illusions. When humans smile, we signal happiness, contentment, and enjoyment to each other. But a dolphin's toothy grin is not an expression of joy – this is simply an anatomical anomaly.
Dolphin skin is smooth and feels rubbery to the touch. Their skin is smooth because they need to pass cleanly through the water without any drag. Dolphin skin is very sensitive, which means it has a lot of nerve endings in it. Humans have a lot of nerve endings too, especially on our face and hands.
Humans and dolphins do have some romantic history
In fact, seven per cent of zoophiles (humans sexually attracted to animals) named dolphins as their preferred choice of mate. Some studies have also found evidence male dolphins are sexually attracted to women as they give off similar pheromones to female dolphins.
When they want to. When they feel safe and free to escape. In the wild, dolphins engage in considerable touching behavior. However, it would be unwise and potentially dangerous to assume that any dolphin you encounter wants to be petted.
Never touch or pet dolphins, even if they come close enough to touch. Use binoculars to watch dolphins from a safe distance in their natural habitat instead.
As a child, you may remember squealing and screaming when you were excited about something. It turns out that humans aren't the only species that gets noisy when they're happy: New research shows that whales and dolphins “squeal with delight” to express glee, too.
Dolphins appear to have a special affection for pregnant women. They have been known to swim up to an expecting woman and make buzzing sounds near her stomach. This is thought to be because dolphins might be able to detect a pregnant woman's developing fetus by using echolocation.
Dolphins have a remarkable long-term memory and can remember specific individuals, sounds, and even tasks they learned in the past. In fact, studies have shown that dolphins can remember things for up to 20 years or more, which is longer than most other animals.
Whenever a member of the group is in danger from a shark, the rest of the pod rushes in to defend their buddy. Dolphins have even been known to protect humans in danger of sharks.
Despite what dolphinaria may have you believe, dolphins are apex ocean predators, capable of even killing sharks, and should be treated as such. Dolphins can be aggressive to people, other dolphins, or even self-harm.
So, how smart are dolphins? Well, it's believed that dolphins are actually the second smartest animal on the planet, next to humans. And yes, even smarter than primates. With a high brain-to-body weight ratio, dolphins are capable of complex problem solving and understanding abstract situations.
“Dolphins are very tactile animals, and males and females will pet and rub their close associates frequently using their pectoral fins and other body parts as a way to bond and/or show affection,” Gibson says.
The bottlenose dolphin is the most well-known specie of all. Their name comes, obviously, from the shape of their nose that resembles a bottle and makes them attractive because they seem to be always smiling. They are commonly found near humans because this specie is very sociable and friendly to humans.
In both situations, it's worth noting that dolphins approached humans for help, perhaps because they know humans, with our opposable thumbs, will be able to perform the precise, careful work required.