One more huge reason to help dolphins

[SeaPrincess]

Dolphins 'protect' lifeguards from great white. 23/11/2004. ABC News Online
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...1/s1249440.htm


Four New Zealand lifeguards say a pod of dolphins provided a protective
barrier around them when they were threatened by a great white shark.

Rob Howes and three other lifeguards were on a training swim about 100
metres off shore at Ocean Beach on NZ's north-eastern coast when the
dolphins raced in and herded the swimmers together.

"They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing
tight circles around us," Howe said.

When he tried to drift away from the group, two of the bigger dolphins
herded him back.

He then saw why. A three-metre great white shark was cruising toward the
group about two metres below the surface.

"I just recoiled," Howe said. "It was only about two metres away from me.
The water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face."

Howe says he then realised the dolphins had moved in to protect the
swimmers.

He says the dolphins surrounded the group for 40 minutes before they were
able to make it back to shore.

Another lifeguard, Matt Fleet, was patrolling nearby in a rescue boat when
he saw the dolphins' unusual behaviour.

When he dived out of the boat to join the group, he also saw the great
white.

Fleet says he was keen to get out of the water after the sighting but did
not panic.

"I just kept looking around to see where it was," he said.

The incident happened about three weeks ago but Howes and Fleet say they
kept the story to themselves until they had a chance to catch up and confirm
what they had seen.

Auckland University marine mammal research scientist Rochelle Constantine
says dolphins are normally vigilant in the presence of sharks.

Dr Constantine says the altruistic response of the dolphins was normal.

"They like to help the helpless," she said.

Isn't it time we humans came to the rescue of dolphins - http://www.seashepherd.org

[eve]

They are certainly kinder to us than we are to them.

[Roxy]

My partner told me this same story tonight, when I got home from work. He had read it in the newspaper today. It brought tears to my eyes, just thinking about what kind animals the dolphins are

What a beautiful story.

[tails4wagging]

Yes, saw it on our TV this morning. Very humbling!!

[PinkFluffyCloud]

When I was a child, my scholl took us on a trip to the Dolphinarium (now closed) in Brighton. It was my birthday, so the Dolphins 'sang' Happy Birthday to me...............it still haunts me now, poor creatures.

[tails4wagging]

Yes PFC, I went there years ago, thank God it has closed. Mind you Sea life centre,there is not much better!!!

[SeaPrincess]

One way we can give back to the dolphins is to become a member of Sea shepherd who are doing so much to try to free the dolphins in Japan.

They are looking for any animal rights oriented Japanese people within Japan to start some action - anybody know anyone? Sea Shepherd wants their Taiji Dolphin Campaign flyer to be translated into Japanese and printed over there then distributed. If we can educate the Japanese populace into making more informed buying decisions hopefully the market would fold in on itself.

[Zozo]

Such a lovely story. My mother told me about it this morning and it brought tears to my eyes.
Dolphins are such beautiful creatures.

[chakra]

Crossing the Pacific once on a cargo ship I relieved the bow lookout at night. My friend Frankie showed me the dolphins riding ahead of our plowing water, getting a ride. This was way out at sea. I followed his example and perched myself somewhat precariously on the bow, legs hanging over and watched them over the hour as they would race ahead, spin off in the distance, circle around and reappear like surfers riding the wave our bow would make.

Suddenly, as the watch period came to an end, I was startled by the harsh unfriendly shout of "Red", the Able Seaman who came to relieve me. I jumped down to the deck as he threatened to shove me into the sea if he ever caught me up there again.

Is it no wonder that dolphins need our help when there are still so many evil ones about.

[Kevster]

'Bloodbath: Japan's dolphin cull gets underway

The nation's annual hunting season is underway, a tradition stretching back centuries. Now, though, protesters from abroad are trying to end this way of life. David McNeill reports from Taiji
Published: 06 January 2007

In Taiji, the fishermen say that dolphin tastes like venison or beef. But eaten raw with a dab of ginger and soy sauce, the glistening dark flesh resembles liver, with a coppery aftertaste that lingers on the roof of the mouth long after you've chewed it past your protesting taste buds. The ripe, tangy smell stays longer. [...]'

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle2129954.ece

[aubergine]

Wow. And I thought we had a struggle in the Uk