Rather than giving a quick answer as to whether or not dolphins are friendly, we’ve decided to go a bit into depth on this article to explain why they may or may not be friendly and what can influence their behavior towards humans.
For the most part, people consider dolphins very friendly and outgoing.
Dolphins have been idolized as main characters in movies such as Free Willy, considered the theme attraction at marine parks where they perform acrobatic maneuvers in front of millions of people each year and are characterized as gods and deities in mythology, among other things.
The military has even used them to help soldiers locate mines and find people lost at sea.
There are just as many dolphin personalities as humans regarding personality and behavior.
Some dolphins become curious and active around people, while others tend to be shy, staying back and observing their surroundings, unsure of what to expect.
Some dolphins may feel threatened or defensive around people, but we’ll explain that later.
Dolphins that are outgoing and friendly tend to be very social and approachable and have been seen coming up to boats or swimming around the shoreline in an attempt to greet and meet people.
Dolphins have even been seen saving people’s lives when they are threatened by sharks or are lost at sea.
As stated earlier, some dolphin species can perform acts at marine shows and water parks, where they perform flips and various acrobatic feats when instructed by their trainer.
Some can even be petted, greeted, and fed by fans that come to see them perform.
As a species, dolphins are considered extremely intelligent.
They can learn and memorize complex tricks, behaviors, and actions when taught how to do so by a trainer at a marine park or in the military.
Although dolphins are considered friendly animals, it is always good advice to be careful when around dolphins.
While many dolphins are often friendly, outgoing, curious, or passive, they have been known to attack humans and other marine mammals when they feel threatened or are highly stressed due to unpleasant situations and circumstances.
This can occur when a dolphin has been mistreated, has been isolated from its family and friends for an extended amount of time, when they are placed in small tanks for long periods, or when come into contact with loud and large objects that are frightening and unfamiliar to them of such as loud boat engines or strange acoustic sounds.
And while many marine parks treat dolphins well, they may show occasional signs of aggression when isolated for long periods in an unnatural environment because they are a very social species and prefer open space and freedom.
Even in natural environments where dolphins have been physically harmed or threatened by humans, they may react defensively against humans and even attack people who approach them.
Fortunately, dolphin attacks are sporadic, and the likelihood of being injured or seriously harmed by a dolphin is even less rare.
For the most part, dolphins are a curious and outgoing species.
Still, caution should always be taken when coming into close contact with a dolphin, and they should never be approached unless supervised by a professional trainer or expert.
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