Recently, a British man swimming in the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast was bitten five times by a shark. As blood stained the waters, a pod of dolphins suddenly appeared, thwarting the shark’s attack and guiding the man to a nearby boat. He was eventually rushed to the hospital, where he received over 300 stitches, and his life was saved. But why did they intervene?
Dolphins saving lives: Three true stories
Throughout history, there have been many tales and legends about dolphins rescuing humans. Below are three real-life incidents that occurred in modern times.
Florida, 1949
A lawyer’s wife from Florida shared her miraculous experience in Natural History magazine. While swimming at a beach, she was caught in an underwater current. As she was about to be pulled under, a dolphin swam rapidly towards her, nudging her several times with its beak until she reached the shallow waters.
Japan, 1964
A Japanese fishing boat sank in the waters off Nojima, leading to the drowning of 6 out of 10 people on board. The four survivors claimed that after swimming to exhaustion, two angel-like dolphins appeared beside them, helping them swim back to the shore.
New Zealand, 2004
Near Whangarei on New Zealand’s North Island, a group of dolphins saved four lives. A lifeguard, his 15-year-old daughter, and her two friends were swimming when dolphins surrounded them. Initially trying to break free, they were herded back by two of the pod. Soon, they spotted a great white shark approaching, and the pod began to slap the water vigorously with their tails, driving the shark away. About half an hour later, once convinced the shark had gone, they escorted the swimmers back to shore.
Why do dolphins save humans?
Scientists propose three main reasons why dolphins might save humans:
1. A natural instinct to care
Dolphins enjoy pushing floating objects on the water’s surface. They often lift newborn calves or injured companions out of the water. This caring behavior extends to other animals and even inanimate objects. That is why once they encounter a drowning person, they may instinctively push the person to the shore as a floating object, thus enabling the person to be saved.
2. A courageous and compassionate act
Dolphins are intelligent creatures with highly developed brains. Marine mammal expert Ingrid Visser states that there are many reports around the world about them protecting swimmers. When they feel that humans may be in danger, they will take action to protect them. In the course of rescuing them, they push people to the shore rather than out to sea, so it is clear that they are indeed trying to save them.
3. A playful nature
Dolphins are playful and excellent imitators. Anything they come across may become a toy to them, including drowning victims. Their habit of patrolling between deep and shallow waters means that they might push a person toward the shore as part of their playful behavior.
In cases involving sharks, the shark’s keen sense of smell might be attracted to a drowning person’s scent. If dolphins are playing nearby, they might perceive the shark as a threat to their “toy” and fight it off.
Conclusion: An enigma of nature
These accounts of dolphins’ heroic interventions remain a fascinating enigma, bridging the mysterious world of marine life with our human experience. Whether driven by instinct, compassion, or playfulness, these extraordinary creatures continue to inspire awe and gratitude in those they have saved.
Translated by cecilia
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