The dolphin is undoubtedly the best-loved marine animal, thanks to its intelligence, lively nature and charm and, not least, its relationship with people. There are many stories of dolphins helping sailors, boats and people at sea.
This mammal's energy comes into its own in the open sea, where it plays in the waves and shows what a powerful swimmer it is.
Below are spectacular photos and videos of dolphins swimming and playing in the wild, sometimes close to people, or approaching the shore as they do in Australia. At Monkey Mia, visitors observe them under the rangers' guidance, without touching them. The collection also includes the birth of a calf at Dolphin Quest Hawaii, a facility with dolphins in captivity.
For surfers, it is much nicer to find friendly dolphins among the waves than feared sharks! There are also accounts of dolphins reportedly saving people during shark encounters: fascinating stories, although the presence of dolphins is no guarantee of protection.
Photos of dolphins at Monkey Mia in Australia
Below are photos of dolphins at Monkey Mia in Australia, the famous protected area known for its dolphins within beautiful Shark Bay, a World Heritage Site.
The beach encounters offer a close look at these mammals and their behaviour. Park staff manage the programme: visitors must follow the Monkey Mia guidelines, without approaching, stroking or feeding dolphins independently.
Dolphin videos
Dolphins live in groups and are extremely intelligent. They communicate through whistles, other sounds and body movements; they also produce high-frequency clicks for echolocation, which helps them navigate and locate prey.
Dolphins are very sociable: the video linked below shows their familiar playful behaviour as they leap near boats. It was filmed in the Caribbean, according to its creator.
The dolphin's playful, sociable nature also shines through in other situations, such as the spectacular encounter with a whale in Hawaii.
Dolphins are mammals: below is remarkable footage of a birth in Hawaii (in Italian). Dolphin Quest's video shows a calf being born in the facility's lagoon, with its mother and staff in the water.
Below is a spectacular aerial view of a large group of dolphins travelling off the coast of Southern California. The video also shows three grey whales migrating along the coast and a humpback whale playing with her calf off Maui in Hawaii.
You may also encounter dolphins in Italian waters at sunset, as in this video near the harbour of Giulianova in Abruzzo.