Dolphins have always been known for their intelligence - but it seems they're even cleverer than we thought, after one South Carolina resident captured the amazing moment bottlenose dolphins took themselves to the beach for a bite to eat:
The video shows the dolphins taking part in a unique feeding ritual called 'strand feeding', which sees them work together to herd a school of fish onto the beach before literally launching themselves out of the water to feed.
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Once the dolphins snap the tasty treats into their mouths, they simply slip elegantly back into the water.
These marine creatures clearly didn't feel too desperate to catch the fish, as Ashley Wolfe, the person who captured the clip on Folly Beach, said they often waited for a helping hand - or kick.
She said: "On this occasion, the dolphin actually waited for me to kick a beached fish back toward him before re-entering the water."
Strand feeding is an incredible task for the bottlenose dolphins to take part in, as when they launch themselves onto the beach they can be moving up to 500 pounds of their body weight on and off the shore.
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The act of strand feeding takes a lot of skill and effort off the creatures as they work together to snap up as many fish as they can - or, in the case of this duo, waiting for a kick in the right direction off some admiring beach-goers.
This wasn't the only occasion dolphins have given people a surprise show into their playful ways.
Recently tourists were shown SeaWorld isn't the only place to see a fantastic marine life display, but also off the coast of Croatia - as proven by a bunch of dolphins eager to show their skills.
In a video captured by one tourist, the dolphins can be seen throwing themselves out of the sea and doing backflips - all without the need to be plied with fishy treats or to be trained by humans.
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Mammals kept in tanks at SeaWorld have been the subject of animal cruelty and controversy after the documentary Blackfish debuted in 2013 and exposed the conditions in which many of the creatures were kept.
But even with the exposure it was too late for the Orca, Tilikum, who was the subject of the documentary, as he passed away in 2017.
However, it's not all doom and gloom - as shown by the dolphins having a grand old time on that South Carolina beach. It just shows any time we humans can see these creatures in the wild, feeding, playing or even showing off their acrobatic skills, we're lucky to be privy.
Featured Image Credit: NewsflareTopics: Dolphins, Awesome, Community, Animals