Amazing dolphins

Dolphins are unique mammals that are capable of fast learning. They’ve always longed for close contact with people. Dolphin therapy is the most exclusive program, which is an excellent alternative and unconventional method of psychotherapy.

There are about 40 species of dolphins and they all have different sizes and weights. These mammals most often live in shallow seas and feed on fish and squid.

These graceful animals, symbols of water and air, have always aroused the interest of humans. The fact that dolphins, inhabitants of the sea, willingly make contact with man, inhabitant of the land, suggests that for over a million years the experience of communication between man and dolphin has been accumulated, as a result of which dolphins have developed a certain behavioral line. Though scientists are still unable to determine the origins of the dolphin's friendly attitude towards man, such a link can be found in the folklore of different countries.

There are many legends in which dolphins act as guides of man in the expanses of the seas and oceans, sometimes as rescuers of shipwrecked people, escorting human souls to the underworld, and even the personification of deities of different religions from different nations.

The Egyptians sometimes portray the goddess of fertility, navigation and water, Isis, with a dolphin. In Hinduism, the god of love Kama is riding a dolphin. In Minoan culture, a dolphin protects the peace and tranquility of the underwater kingdom.

Dolphins are the smartest of all sea creatures. They even have their own language. It was found that they can understand up to 60 words at a time and construct about 2000 sentences from them. The dolphin brain weighs 2 kilograms more than a human brain but has the same convolution configuration as our brains. They have excellent hearing and vision and can find the exact location of an object using echolocation. In addition, these are very social animals that constantly communicate with each other.

 Dolphins sometimes save people from sunken ships, help keep afloat and scare away sharks! In 2003, Hardy Jones was filming dolphins, when a shark approached him. Four dolphins protected him and he was never attacked. Todd Endris was a survivor of a brutal 2007 great white shark attack in Monterey Bay and was saved by dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins surrounded him and formed a barrier between him and the shark. This protection allowed Todd to get to the shore safely. These examples are numerous.

In the modern world, the unique abilities of dolphins have found application in animal therapy. Employees of the Utrish Dolphinarium found that communicating with dolphins has a positive effect in treating many human diseases. After a course of dolphin therapy, scientists observed a significant improvement in the condition of patients in more than 70% of cases. Here is a list of the most common diseases that dolphin therapy cures partially or completely: memory disorder and learning disability; early childhood autism; cerebral palsy; Down syndrome and other congenital abnormalities; depressive disorders; phobias; neurosis; problems with pregnancy. Rehabilitation treatment in dolphinariums is used in combination with physiotherapy and drug treatment.

“Dolphins are sensitive indicators of the state of the environment. They are considered to be indicators of the pollution of water in the area where they live. If dolphins leave their habitats, it means that things are bad there.

In addition, marine transport has a very negative impact on their habitat. Dolphins collide with ships, and then the sea brings their bodies to shore. The cause of declining fertility and increasing mortality of these mammals is global warming as well.

In addition, scientists have discovered that seawater still contains chemicals that have long been banned. Studying the dead dolphins and other representatives of marine life, they also came to the conclusion that the cause of their death is very often fishing nets.

According to experts, the factors threatening the dolphins are countless, but everyone agrees on one thing - until every person on Earth learns to think and care for the environment, the situation will not improve.

“I have been honoured to serve the whales, dolphins, seals - and all the other creatures on this Earth. Their beauty, intelligence, strength, and spirit have inspired me.” Paul Watson

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