Dolphins save man from shark

[MrScorpio]

Published on Sunday, October 10, 2010 by administrator

SWIMMERS have told how a pod of dolphins protected them from a great white shark off the northeastern coast of New Zealand.

Rob Howes and three other lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 metres offshore at Ocean Beach, near Whangarei, when the dolphins raced in and herded the group together.

“They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us,” Mr Howe said.

When he tried to drift away from the group, two of the bigger dolphins herded him back.

He then saw why. A three metre great white shark was cruising toward the group about two metres below the surface.

“I just recoiled. It was only about two metres away from me, the water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face,” he said, adding he then realised the dolphins had moved in to protect the swimmers.


http://animaltales.info/blog/dolphins-save-man-from-shark?utm_source=wahoha.com&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=wahoha

[Old Troop]

1. I'm impressed that a football team is willing to take that risk. Oh, wait...

[Swede]

2. I bet the Eagles wouldn't do it.

:shrug:

[kayakjohnny]

3. Whangarei has always had a pod of dolphins that have interacted heavily with people.

I heard of them years ago (late 80's) when I was there. Some of them live in the harbor there. They seem to know just where to be to avoid boat traffic. We kayaked right through them. I heard stories of them messing with people in boats and such, by splashing them. But also heard stories of them rescuing beach goers and boaters in trouble.

Apparently, they haven't missed a beat in all these years.

That area is so cool too, if you ever find yourself down there.

People and scenery and everything just wonderful.

Glad to see this story.

Not surprised a bit.

[Skittles]

4. they're the border collies of the sea

yes INDEED

[underpants]

5. Sayeth Dwight

Dolphins get a lot of good publicity for the drowning swimmers they push back to shore, but what you don’t hear about is the many people they push farther out to sea! Dolphins aren’t smart. They just like pushing things.

[1monster]

6. Think so? A dolphin once saved my husband from walking straight on to

a huge rattle snake.

He worked in a marine park and would stop by her tank, pet her and talk to her three to six times a day. On the morning in question, he was on his way to finish the show in the Dolphin Stadium. He stopped, petted Nellie (who is now 57 years old) and started to walk around her tank when Nellie reared up out of the water, yakketing and splashing very agitatedly. DH stepped back, pet her again and went to pass around Nellie's tank again. And again Nellied reared up. (The space between Nellie's tank and the wall around the stadium was only about two feet wide.)

Shortly thereafter, another memeber of the staff came from the opposite direction. Let's just call him "Alligator Dundee" to give you a picture of the guy. He was "Old Florida" in the flesh. He reached down, did a karate chop picked up the huge rattle snake that had been coiled there, broke its neck and held it up for the flabbergasted audience to see.

Nellie knew that snake was there. Nellie had a soft spot for DH, but I don't doubt that she would have stopped anyone from walking on the rattle snake.

I don't believe for one moment she was acting unusally just to play with DH. She knew what she was doing, bless her heart. Dolphins are extremely smart and can reason out complex problems. Too many humans are homosapien centric and downplay the intelligence of other specises.

PS I worked in the reseach lab on site and in the PR office of that park and spent a lot of time with the dolphins. I had conversations with David and Melba Caldwell (researchers in dolphin communications and behaviors) when I worked in the lab. The stories they told! Google them. Some of their books are still available.

[underpants]

9. That is amazing

great story. Thanks.

[1monster]

10. You are welcome. Those were the days...

[blaze]

7. Love these stories!!

If I recall correctly, I think there was a similar story posted on DU about a year ago...

If they had any idea what we are doing to their ocean....

[Bucky]

8. Blatant antishark propaganda by bigoted delphinophiles

Sharks are lovers, not fighters.
Why, just look at this li'l scamp!
Is he killing? Naw, just smilin' for
the camera! Dolphins are straight up punks. Please don't help spread all their ugly lies about sharks.