In nature dolphins can swim deep till 200 metres, they have a very complex social life. Dolphins are a widely distributed, they are marine mammals.
OIPA campaigns against the practice of keeping them in captivity, where they often develop pathologies. Although dolphins generally interact well with humans, some attacks have occurred, most of them resulting in small injuries. Many researchers agree that dolphins are extremely social creatures and actually depend on this interaction for hunting, mating and defending themselves and their pods.
Typically, dolphins live and travel in groups ranging from 2-40 dolphins. But scientists have found dolphin pods as large as several hundred members. These groups are actually called herds or schools. In some cases, these larger groups have been to known to include more than one species that seem to interact well together.
Dolphins communicate with their pods and large groups usually through whistles. Many scientists and dolphin researchers believe that each individual dolphin actually has a unique whistle that identifies him to other members of his pod or group.
Dolphins in distress seem to use a special whistle that indicates help is needed. The pod or group usually responds quickly.
Noise in the oceans is a catastrophe for dolphins. They can no longer understand one another and can’t find their way around. They try to keep away from the noise and lose their feeding grounds. Sometimes dolphins remain deaf for the rest of their lives after encountering noise of this kind: their sensitive hearing is damaged forever. Unfortunately, it is usually humans responsible for the noise in the sea. Ships, military exercises, oil plants are examples of dangerous noises for dolphins.
Dolphins are also called the “Nomads of the Oceans”, because they don’t spend their entire lives in one place either. Their search for food takes them all over the oceans of the world. This means that a killer whale can be hunting for tuna fish in the Straits of Gibraltar and turn up off the coast of Ireland more than 1000 kilometres away only a few days later.
Read more about Dolphinariums and aquarius: http://www.oipa.org/international/aquarius/
