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Have you ever watched a video of a group of dolphins swimming next to a boat? If so, you’ve probably seen them jumping, diving, splashing, and playing ball. When you watched this show, you may have wondered: why do dolphins follow boats? Are they doing it just for fun or is there another reason?
Find out why dolphins follow the boat, how fast they swim, and how they communicate with each other.
Why do dolphins follow boats?
Although dolphins are known for their intelligence, they also have a strong sense of curiosity. This is the first reason they keep an eye on the boats. The movement of the boat, its sounds and the sound of the water encourage dolphins to check out the strange object in their habitat. They walk up to the boat and sail alongside it to study this fast moving object and observe the people on board. Maybe people are playing loud music that vibrates. These animals are curious and will not be able to resist the game. While some other sea creatures would rather hide or swim away from this commotion, dolphins do the opposite. They love to explore!
Not surprisingly, dolphins try to swim as fast as possible. When the dolphin follows the boat, its body is carried away by the waves, causing them to move even faster than usual. They burn less energy when they reach a higher speed. In a way, when dolphins follow the boat, they get a free ride!
Food is another reason they keep an eye on the boats. Sometimes people on boats are so entertained by these racing dolphins that they throw the fish overboard. Once a dolphin is rewarded for following the boat, he will likely repeat this routine every time he sees big boats, small boats, and everything in between. In addition, sometimes the fish rises to the surface following the boat. It is an easy meal for a dolphin who is just having fun.
Did you know dolphins have a competitive side? They make! This brings up another reason why they keep an eye on the boats. Sometimes dolphins of different species are members of the same flock or group. Fidget dolphins and spotted dolphins are known to come together. If they are following the boat, these different species may try to show each other their jumping or diving skills. Call it friendly competition. If the people aboard the boat are applauding, calling and giving them a lot of attention, dolphins are likely to show their best jumping and flipping. Dolphins are friendly animals that love attention.
What types of boats are they chasing?
Dolphins follow boats of all sizes. Large trail boats are especially attractive to them because they can pick up a lot of speed if followed very close. Speedboats make a lot of noise and move quickly through the water, which is why they are a favorite of these fast creatures.
Dolphins are also attracted by commercial fishing boats. The fish caught by the ship’s crew is the very fish that dolphins taste delicious. Unfortunately, dolphins sometimes get trapped in commercial fishing nets when they are exploring this type of vessel. A dolphin caught in a commercial fishing net could be killed.
A group of dolphins won’t as interested in a group of people sailing in a canoe, rowing boat or other slow moving boats. But their curiosity can get the better of them if they notice that the oars are dipping into the water. If people are talking or music is coming from the jet ski, this is even more an excuse for these marine mammals to sort out the situation.
Do dolphins ever get sick while chasing a boat?
Sometimes dolphins are injured while chasing a boat. They can swim too close to the boat’s propeller and get injured. In addition, sometimes dolphins are knocked down by boats when they cross the road in front of them. Some of these injuries are life-threatening, while others leave scars on this marine mammal.
How do dolphins communicate with each other?
Dolphins communicate with each other in a variety of ways. They whistle to alert other dolphins of their presence. Marine biologists believe dolphins can recognize humans by their unique whistle. Mother dolphins and their babies are known to whistle to each other when separated.
Dolphins make clicking sounds in connection with the echolocation process. The dolphin makes a clicking sound that bounces off objects and other sea creatures around it. The sound returns to the dolphin, giving him a good idea of what is around. The dolphin uses echolocation to search for prey, locate other dolphins, and stay alert for predators in the area.
Dolphins also communicate with their bodies. When a dolphin flaps its flippers on the surface of the water, it signals to others that there is danger in the area. Sometimes they flap their tails in the water when they want to play or when they feel hungry. When two males bump into each other several times, it is a sign of aggression. The male who does this can protect his cub or his mate. One dolphin strikes or bangs its teeth on the back or side of another dolphin is also a signal of aggression. He does not bite another dolphin; it’s just a warning to stay away.
Bouncing in the air is a sign that the dolphin is happy or feeling particularly playful.
Spy jumping is another dolphin behavior. When the spy dolphin jumps, it is about halfway out of the water. He moves his tail fin to sit down for a few seconds. They spy on the jump because they want to position themselves where they can better see their surroundings. A dolphin can do this to look at people or objects in a passing boat. In addition, these animals can be seen jumping spies if they check their surroundings for predators such as great white sharks, bull sharks or tiger sharks.
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How fast do dolphins swim?
Dolphins can swim up to 37 miles per hour. But when traveling across the ocean, they usually reach speeds of 6 to 10 miles per hour.
Are dolphins social animals?
Yes, they are social animals. A group is called a herd or herd. Some pods contain only three or four dolphins, while others contain 30. They travel in herds to protect themselves from predators and share the food they find. In addition, both adults and young dolphins have a playful character. So, they like to be with each other.
Looking at the dolphin flock, it is interesting to note that there are smaller groups within the herd. One of these smaller groups, known as the subgroup, is called the mother tape. This is a congestion of females along with their young cubs. Another subgroup consists of young dolphins. These are young dolphins that have just become independent of their mothers. The bachelor subgroup consists of two or three males who have not yet found a mate.
When are dolphins active?
Dolphins are especially active before sunrise. They also increase their activity in the middle of the morning and in the afternoon. So people who are on the boats are more likely to see them at this time.
Where do dolphins live?
They live in many places around the world. Various species live off the coast of Australia, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and even Antarctica.
With 49 species of dolphins, it’s no surprise that they inhabit so many areas. Some can live in tropical waters while others live in temperate or arctic seas. Humpbacks, bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins live off the coast of South Africa.
The Australian humpback dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin live off the coast of Australia. If you live in North America, you will be pleased to know that 16 species of dolphins live off the coast of this continent. Some of these include striped dolphins, spinner dolphins, white-billed dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and toothed dolphins. The hourglass-shaped dolphin lives in the cold waters off the coast of Antarctica.
Are dolphins endangered?
Some species are considered endangered. Some of them are the Amazon River Dolphin, the South Asia River Dolphin, the Ayeyarwaddy Dolphin, and the Indian Ocean Hunchback Dolphin. These animals are threatened with extinction as a result of increased water pollution. In addition, their populations are at risk because they often die after being trapped in commercial fishing nets designed to capture other species of marine life.
On the other hand, many dolphins are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, such as spinner dolphins, striped dolphins, common dolphins, sand dolphins and snow white dolphins.
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