1964, a Japanese fishing boat sank in the waters near Japan and Nagano Island. /kloc-6 of the 0/0 crew members drowned, and the other 4 went downstream to the shore with the help of dolphins.
1966, a crew member of a Bulgarian cargo ship accidentally fell into the sea and was dying. A group of dolphins gathered around and lifted the crew out of the water and were rescued. 198 1 1 In June, a passenger ship was sailing in the Java Sea and suddenly caught fire. A couple threw three children into the sea to escape. Coincidentally, a group of dolphins swam over and picked up the three children until they were rescued. The couple were killed by the fire.
Not only that, there are reports that dolphins save people from sharks. A couple were diving in the Gulf of Mexico when two four-meter-long tiger sharks swam towards them. Just then, a dolphin rushed over and fought with the tiger shark. As a result, the couple were saved. This has happened in the coastal waters of Australia, Southeast Asia and Central America.
People can't help asking: Do dolphins really save people? Why do you save people?
After doing a lot of experiments, scientists believe that dolphins breathe with their lungs, just like mammals on land. Dolphins swim in the water, so they should often surface for air, otherwise they will suffocate. When a baby dolphin is born, the mother dolphin usually gently lifts the baby with her nose and mouth, or gently bites the pectoral fin of the baby dolphin with her mouth, leaving it above the water until the baby can breathe on its own. This is completely an instinct of dolphins. So when people fall into the water, it is not surprising that dolphins may think that their young have fallen into the water and try to save them. When a drowning person is threatened by a shark, dolphins naturally think that their young are under attack and will fight with the shark to rescue the drowning person. This is the view of most scholars. But opponents believe that dolphins are very smart mammals in the ocean, and they can do many things for people after domestication. Just like birds and dogs raised by people, they are also people. How can we say that their rescue behavior is entirely out of unconscious instinct? In addition, how can we explain the rumor that dolphins can pilot?
Scientists have the following three main explanations for dolphins saving lives.
"Caring Nature" says that the life-saving virtue of dolphins comes from their "caring nature" for their children.
"Be brave" said: In the past few centuries, many similarities between dolphins and humans have been talked about by people. Dolphin is very clever because it has a developed brain and many gullies. Dolphin is a kind of animal with high IQ, and its "feat" of saving people is a conscious act. Because in most cases, dolphins will push people to the shore, not the sea. 14 Ingrid who studies marine mammals? Wiezell said that there are many reports about dolphins protecting swimmers in the world. When dolphins may feel that human beings are in danger, they will take immediate action to protect them. Dolphins sometimes even fight sharks to protect themselves and their cubs.
"frolic" said: dolphins are naturally active and good at imitation, and their favorite thing is to play in the water. Therefore, everything they touch has become their toys. Why do dolphins push people ashore instead of teasing people in the water like toys? This is related to the habits of dolphins, which like to cruise back and forth in deep water and shallow water. If a person falls into the water in deep water and happens to meet a group of dolphins who are guerrilla in shallow water, they will push the person into shallow water, or push the drowning person to the shore.
It turns out that dolphins are mammals that breathe with their lungs. They can dive into the water when swimming, but they have to put their heads out of the sea to breathe every once in a while. Otherwise, you will be drowned by water. So the most important thing for newborn dolphins is to float to the surface as soon as possible to breathe. Under normal circumstances, the baby dolphins can reach the surface smoothly by themselves, but in case of an accident, they need the care of their mothers. She gently lifts the dolphin with a kiss, or holds the pectoral fin of the dolphin with her teeth to make it surface until the dolphin can breathe on its own.
This caring behavior is the instinct of dolphins and all whales. Dolphins' initial motivation may only be to save their young dolphins, but later it has gradually become a kind of accustomed nature, and the object of rescue is not limited to their own children. Anything that doesn't move actively in the water will attract their attention and come to the rescue. Scientists have done many experiments, and the results show that dolphins will take the initiative to rescue anything floating in front of them, whether it is a lifebuoy or a big board.
In addition, taking care of dolphins is not limited to their biological mothers, but other females are also willing to do so. They often cooperate with each other to help the offspring of dolphins. Sometimes, they will put the dolphins together in the middle and put them under their protection. No wonder dolphins often save people in groups.