|
Dolphin Feeding
Since wild dolphins catch and eat their food underwater and research is expensive and often hard
to do, most of the data regarding their feeding habits has come from analyzing the contents of the
stomachs of dead animals that wash up on the beach.
Dolphin
Predators
Dolphins are not chicken of the sea; yet it would appear that they make a tasty meal for many
predators. And why not? With an exceptionally high fat content, dolphin and other cetacean meat
provides great nutrition for predators who stalk, or swim stalkingly, throughout the ocean.
Dolphin Reproduction
Dolphins, like almost all mammals, give birth to live young, and nurse them with mammary glands,
though it boggles the mind to imagine nursing underwater. But the birth of a dolphin starts long
before his babyhood; it starts with how Mom and Dad first met.
Dolphin Social Life
Many researchers agree that dolphins extremely social creatures and actually seem to depend on
this interaction while hunting, mating and defending themselves and their pods. Typically, dolphins
live and travel in groups ranging from 2-40 dolphins. Research has also shown dolphin pods as large
as several hundred members.
Dolphins
Endangered
Although wild dolphins face many natural dangers within the deep expanse of the ocean, the most
overwhelming threat to their existence is man.
Wild Dolphins
As Swim With The Dolphin (SWTD) programs and Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) continue to gain
popularity, we're seeing more and more dolphins being held in captivity than ever before. While
some scientists claim that dolphin research is progressing in great strides, critics believe that
holding wild dolphins captive is cruel and should be stopped.
|