The most amazing facts about dolphins

Dolphins have long been one of the most beloved oceanic animals by man. They have high intelligence and a cheerful, friendly disposition. Most of us associate dolphins with funny acrobatic performances in the dolphinarium. However, some countries are seriously concerned about the issue of keeping dolphins in captivity and even adopt laws to protect them.

Why have dolphins earned such a respectful attitude among many peoples and have become an integral part of human culture? Let's try to figure it out by studying interesting facts about these wonderful animals.

Dolphin in the aviary.

The dolphin is the only mammal whose birth begins literally with the tail, and not with the head! Young dolphins stay with their mother for two or three years.

There are almost forty species of dolphins in nature, their closest relatives are whales and sea cows. Dolphins evolved relatively recently - about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Most dolphin species live in salt water, but there are also freshwater animals.

Adult dolphins reach sizes from 1.2 m in length and weights from 40 kg (river dolphin) to 9.5 m and 10 tons (killer whale). The brain is the largest organ in the dolphin's body. During sleep, part of the brain is awake, allowing the dolphin to breathe in his sleep so as not to drown. The life of a dolphin directly depends on access to oxygen.

Dolphins have a weak sense of smell, but excellent eyesight and absolutely unique hearing. By emitting powerful sound pulses, they are capable of echolocation, which allows them to navigate perfectly in the water, find each other and get food.

Dolphins can swim at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour for a long time. This is about three times faster than the fastest swimmers in the world.

They also really like to do... surfing! For example, off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands, surfer dolphins can often be observed.

The history of human-dolphin interaction begins with the first mention of these animals. Recently, it was discovered that the body language of dolphins largely corresponds to the rules of human verbal communication. Communication with dolphins has a positive effect on the human body, especially on the child's psyche. This conclusion was reached by British experts back in 1978. Since that time, the development of "dolphin therapy" began. Now it is used to treat many physical and mental illnesses, including autism. Swimming with dolphins relieves chronic pain, increases immunity and even helps the development of speech in children.

A dolphin and a pregnant woman off the coast of Ixtapa, Mexico. Ixtapa, MexicoPicture: CATERS

A touching example of human care for animals: a 10-day-old baby dolphin who has lost his mother is fed in a shelter.

He already has a best friend - a baby penguin.

Dolphins communicate easily and amicably with other animals, and they reciprocate.

Dolphins study a tiger cub at a safari park in Ginseng, China.

An incredibly romantic fact from the "personal" life of dolphins - ethologists studying Amazon dolphins have found that males give gifts to potential partners. So, what kind of gift is waiting for a female dolphin to consider a male as a candidate for the continuation of offspring? Of course, a bouquet of river algae!

Thanks to their graceful beauty, dolphins have become popular models for photographers from all over the world. Let's check if watching amazing photos with these animals also has an effect akin to "dolphin therapy"?