If you have seen a Dolphin show at SeaWorld or similar venues, you would recognize that Dolphins have tremendous acrobatic skills. Apparently, some of these acrobatic skills are not enhanced version of the natural behaviors exhibited by Dolphins in the wild. I recently read in the news (Australia's Daily Telegraph, BBC Science/Nature) that tail-walking is one such skill that is learned (from human trainers?) by Dolphins in captivity.
Why am I surprised, and why am I blogging about this topic you ask? Well, I recently wrote a blog about my encounter with Dolphins in the Monterey Bay. In the pictures that I shared in my previous blog, you will see that Dolphins are playful and acrobatic animals. Their natural showmanship skills is especially elevated by their curiosity around humans. In one the pictures (on this blog), I believe I happen to captured a wild Dolphin doing the tail-walking. Perhaps this isn't a coincidence.
Due to more human and Dolphin interactions in the wild, I believe Dolphin's behaviors are evolving. Dolphins are intelligent animals. I believe they are trying to learn from us, just as we try to learn more about them. If we humans (e.g. Michael Phelps) can learn and use the Dolphin kick to our advantage, why can't Dolphins learn to walk? I agree it's not obvious (the benefits) what they gain by tail-walking, except more fanfare. Nonetheless, we will soon see more Dolphins tail-walking in their natural habitat, one that they are having to share more and more with their two legged friends.
If you have observed similar behaviors, please feel free to share your experience in the comments field below.
