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| Dolphins at Play
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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.
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| 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.
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Education
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Literature & eBooks
Children's Classic Literature
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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.
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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. §
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