The beauty and intelligence of dolphins captivate many, but these remarkable creatures face numerous threats. Dolphins play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, yet their populations are dwindling. As humans, we have the power to contribute positively to their conservation, ensuring these majestic mammals thrive for future generations.
Dolphins are vital to marine ecosystems. They are apex predators, which means they maintain balance by controlling the populations of fish and squid. By doing so, dolphins help sustain the diversity and health of the ocean environment. When dolphins are healthy, the marine ecosystem is healthier too.
Dolphins face numerous challenges. Pollution, particularly plastic waste, contaminates ocean waters, affecting dolphin health. Habitat loss due to coastal development and climate change further threatens their existence. Additionally, harmful fishing practices can injure or kill dolphins, either through direct capture or by reducing their food supply. These combined threats create an urgent need for effective conservation strategies.
Difference Between Dolphins and Porpoises
These ‘ocean cousins’ are quite different. Dolphins have longer noses and are much bigger, and have wave-like fins compared to triangular fins in porpoises. The main difference is that dolphins are more social and live in much bigger pods, and make more noise!
Practical Ways to Support Conservation Efforts
- Reducing plastic use is crucial. Opt for reusable bags, bottles, and containers. Additionally, avoid seafood or choose brands with sustainable labels, to avoid by-catch like dolphins. Eat less fish (over-fishing is playing havoc with the food supply of marine creatures).
- Even in England, creatures in aquariums (just like zoos) don’t have the space needed. People also often mistakenly assume that captive dolphins are happy, because they are always smiling. In fact, dolphins can’t move their facial muscles so they will always look like that, even if they are thoroughly miserable, bored and depressed.
- Welfare experts also say to avoid ‘swimming with dolphins’. It sounds nice, but dolphins are very good predators and could easily harm an autistic child in the water. You wouldn’t put your child in the water with a shark, so why a dolphin? They can be just as lethal, if spooked.
Stop Cruel Dolphin Hunts
Join the campaign at Whale & Dolphin Conservation to stop cruel dolphin hunts in Japan, Faroe Islands, Peru, Sri Lanka and Ghana. Over 100,000 dolphins and small whales are killed each year, either for eating or to use as bait for the shark fin industry. Your support helps the charity conduct undercover investigations, educate the public (many people in Japan have no idea what goes on) and ask businesses to stop using airlines that carry live dolphins captured during hunts, to send to zoos and aquariums worldwide.
How to Help an Injured or Stranded Dolphin
You call British Marine Life Diver’s Rescue (which has volunteers who can help, and also runs training courses for marine mammal medic volunteers and the veterinary industry). Either call the number (or be put through by the coastguard or RSPCA). The site has detailed information, but in summary:
Don’t put injured dolphins back in the sea. Instead follow the five P’s while you wait for help to arrive:
- Protection (use a face mask and gloves, and steer clear of the blowhole and trashing tails)
- Position (roll the creature onto its underbelly, dig trenches under pectoral fins for comfort)
- Pour water (to keep the skin moist – soaked seaweed is another good option). Never pour pour water or cover seaweed over the blowhole, this is how marine creatures breathe).
- People (keep people and noise away, keep an eye out for tides and rough seas.
- Photos (send photos and videos to the BDMLR call handler)
- Also report dead dolphins (location, date, species, condition) so areas can be monitored.
An Amazing True Story about Dolphins
We’ve all heard about dolphins circling divers, to protect them from sharks. But here’s another true story to amaze you:
In California, a marine biologist who regularly watched a pod of dolphins, saw one suddenly ‘shoot off’ into the middle of the ocean, followed quickly by the others. Knowing this was not usual, she got in her boat and followed them. Around 3 miles off-shore, they were circling a young woman, obviously in danger.
When the girl arrived at ER in the hospital, it turned out she was German and could not speak English. So a translator spoke to her. The teenager was miles off shore, as she had swam out, to try to commit suicide. The dolphins had known from 3 miles away (back at shore) and swam out to save her? Isn’t nature wonderful?
