An expert has addressed a wholesome viral video of a dolphin playfully swimming with a family after travelling inshore and encountering the happy swimmers.
The video was taken by a small family who travelled for a morning swim in Lyme Bay, Dorset to be encountered with the dream for many – a beautiful animal coming over and playfully interacting with them.
Lynda Macdonald, 50, from the UK, travelled for an early morning swim with her partner, her son, and his girlfriend when a bottlenose dolphin came up and started interacting with them, rolling over and leading them through the water with its nose.
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Now though, an expert has spoken to the Daily Mail about what the dolphin was actually doing in the viral video footage.
Speaking about this experience, Macdonald, who works in advertising, said: “It was a magical moment, I'm so glad I caught it on camera. Out of nowhere, the dolphin immediately approached us and wanted to join in on the action.”
Describing it as ‘friendly and playful’, she added: "It was not distressed by our presence and was very confident around us.
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"I've seen a dolphin before, but this is something I'll remember forever. "
Multiple animal behaviour experts have spoken to the Daily Mail in a new article, however, explaining what the dolphin was doing in the footage.
Thea Taylor, who is the managing director for the Sussex Dolphin Project, stated that bottlenose dolphins are ‘inherently curious animals’ and this was likely a young male adult wanting to make connections.
She said: “It may be that this curious dolphin was trying to mimic the people's upright position in the water.
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“Playing and mimicking movement is one of the main ways in which dolphins secure bonds with other individuals so, if it is a solitary dolphin without a pod it may be trying to find connections with other animals.”
Thankfully, for anyone worrying that the reveal was going to be that the dolphin was secretly doing some sort of evil mating ritual or summoning tentacle-faced rabbits, she confirmed that the video appears to show the animal playing.
Taylor explained: “The animal is choosing to stay with the family and they gave the animal space to move off when it was ready.”
Taylor was keen to warn of the dangers to wildlife if people specifically seek out animals though, pointing to how the dolphin in this video appears to have sought the family instead.
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This was reinforced by Jess Churchill-Bissett, Head of Marine Convesrvation at the Marine Management Organisation, who told the Daily Mail: “The arrival of a dolphin in a small coastal community can be a source of wonder and pride.
“But it’s vital to remember that dolphins are vulnerable and unpredictable wild animals protected by law.
“We all have a responsibility to respect their space, keep a safe distance, and understand how our actions can unintentionally cause harm or even constitute a criminal offence.”
Michael Slavin