Behavior of a Solitary Sociable Female Bottlenose Dolphin off the Coast of Kent, SE England
Submitted on Mar 05, 2010 (Original item from 2007)
Wildlife and Exotics | International Research | Whaling | Wildlife
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Short Description:
This report systematically studied the behavior of a solitary dolphin off the southeast coast of England in 2007. Accompanied by humans for 18.4% of the 100 hours of observation, the dolphin changed her behavior during human presence, at times exhibiting behaviors possibly hazardous to people in the water and to the dolphin herself.
Abstract:
This paper provides a report of the behavior of a solitary sociable dolphin studied on the southeast coast of England in 2007. This is the first study of its kind where behavior of such a nonhuman animal was systematically studied. By the time of this study, this young female was highly interactive with people in the water. People accompanied the dolphin for 18.4% of the 100 hours of observation, and their presence changed her behavior.
The study recorded 39 different behaviors; feeding and resting behaviors declined in frequency in the presence of people. In addition, the dolphin exhibited behavior possibly hazardous to people in the water, which included preventing swimmers from leaving the water. The dolphin received several wounds, at least one of which was life–threatening. This paper discusses the welfare implications for such animals.
[Abstract excerpted from original study]
Spot Check Number:
1305
Sponsor:
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
Animal Type:
Marine Animals
Record Type:
Research Study
Research Method:
Experimental/Modeling/Applications
Geographic Region:
International
Number of Participants:
1
Population Descriptors:
A female bottlenose dolphin off the SE coast of England
Year Conducted:
2007
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