|
|
|
|
| Dolphins
at Play |
Dolphins are such successful hunters that they usually have a lot of
time
to just play around. Both in captivity and in the wild, dolphins have
shown
that they can catch on to a game quickly. They also tend to invent new
games
on their own. It has been observed that these games even have develop
rules,
and that individuals caught breaking the rules may be scolded.
|
| Social
Behavior |
During birth: When a female dolphin (cow) is
giving birth, two or three other females usually assist in the process.
Protection of young: Dolphins often swim in
formations keeping the calves in the center of the pod for safety.
Mother and calf relations: Most calves remain
with
their mothers for at least two or three years, often even longer. It
seems
that there is much vocal communication between the mother and calf as
well
as physical communication.
|
| Education
|
Literature
& eBooks
Children's Classic Literature
|
| |
|
Dolphin Communication
When
the word dolphin is mentioned, one of the first things people think of
is
"Flipper ". This portrayal of dolphins is inaccurate because it gives
dolphins
too many human characteristics. In captivity, dolphins can be trained
to
understand and interpret some words and actions, but they cannot
understand
us word for word like in the TV show.
Even though dolphins may not understand us completely, they might have
their
own languages. In fact, many people believe that dolphins communicate
with
vocal languages. With these communication skills comes a complex social
structure,
and dolphins have been observed to work together in a variety of
situations. §
|
|
National Parks in
Costa Rica which protect marine areas with dolphins
and whales are Ballena National Marine Park, Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge,
and Santa Rosa National Park.
A major characteristic of many dolphins is their curiosity and
playfulness.
Dolphins are known for activities like bow-riding, wake-riding,
lobtailing,
spyhopping, and interacting with humans. These behaviors are not
characteristic
of all dolphins. Some species are usually very solitary. We know little
about
these dolphins because they are difficult to study. Like humans, there
is
a wide variety of dolphins, each one with its own attitude. §
|
|
|
