Dolphins, whether they are wild or captive, are typically not aggressive or dangerous unless provoked by a human.
The majority of dolphins are curious, approachable, and friendly, and they get along well with people.
Some dolphins frequently approach small boats to interact with them because they enjoy interacting with and being fed by people.
In marine parks and aquariums, dolphins are often approached by people who will play with them and let people pet them.
Are Dolphins Dangerous?
Generally speaking, dolphins are not dangerous. There have been a few instances of dolphins attacking humans inexplicably because they are wild animals.
Despite the fact that dolphins always appear friendly and happy, this is not always the case.
Even though dolphins appear to be smiling, this is simply due to their anatomy, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are safe.
It’s crucial to remember that dolphins can be dangerous and are not always the friendly animals frequently portrayed because they have been implicated in numerous vicious and sometimes fatal attacks on humans.
Bottlenose dolphins can tear their prey to pieces before consuming it using their set of 74 to 104 razor-sharp teeth.
However, if a dolphin feels threatened or intimidated, it may also bite people. Dolphins can ram their prey with their incredibly powerful snout in addition to biting them.
Because dolphins can kill sharks with a single swift blow to the soft underbelly of sharks, frequently causing internal damage and even death, even some of the largest sharks in our oceans are terrified of them.
Dolphins are able to swim at speeds of around 20mph in short bursts, so if they decide to ram you then can cause serious injury that will likely leave you in the emergency room.
Valerie Ryan was attacked by a dolphin that rammed into her with its snout, causing six spinal fractures, three broken ribs, a damaged lung, and PTSD in the victim.
Dolphins are not always the sweet and helpless creatures that they seem to be, and should they decide to attack, they are more than capable of killing a person.
How Big Are Dolphins?
The most prevalent dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, is between 2.5 and 4 meters (8 and 13 feet) long and weighs between 200 and 300 kilograms (440 and 660 pounds).
What is the Difference Between a Dolphin, Porpoise, and Whale?
The dolphin family includes both river and oceanic dolphins, such as the pink Amazon River dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin. Did you know that some dolphins live in rivers?). Porpoises resemble dolphins in appearance but differ in having a shorter beak and a more narwhal- or beluga-like appearance. The largest species in this clade is the orca whale (also known as a killer whale), which is a member of the dolphin family.
We’ll examine oceanic dolphins in this article to see if they are potentially harmful.
Do Dolphins Have Sharp Teeth?
Dolphins do indeed have 80 to 100 sharp teeth. Their teeth are not like shark teeth, despite how dangerous that sounds. Shark teeth are triangular in shape with a wide base and a length of 1.5 to 3 inches. Dolphins have smaller teeth with a diameter of only one centimeter. Dolphins only have one top row and one bottom row of teeth, compared to sharks’ multiple rows. Dolphins use their teeth to attack prey, but they do not use them to chew. Dolphins belong to the “toothed whale” group.
Have Dolphins Ever Attacked Humans?
There have been a few incidents where dolphins have bitten or rammed into humans, causing injuries, but they are extremely rare. There was a highly publicized case in 2019 of a 10-year-old girl being attacked in a “swim with dolphins” experience in She was bit and then released after being dragged underwater by two captivity bottlenose dolphins in Cancun, Mexico. She received a few bites and scratches, which was obviously a frightening experience.
Be cautious when reading headlines because another publicized story in 2012 reported “dolphins at Another young girl is attacked by Seaworld.” The video shows a row of children feeding dolphins from the side of an enclosure. A dolphin attempts to eat the fish tray the girl is still holding, but bites her arm inadvertently as she turns her head away. It does not look like an “attack,” but people need to judge for themselves.
How Do Researchers Explain the Occasional Dolphin Attack?
According to one theory, forcing dolphins to interact with humans in a small space can make them hostile. Others believe that although dolphins enjoy playing with people and are drawn to them because of their social nature, they occasionally overplay their cards.
According to some researchers, dolphins can have different personalities, just like people do, and some dolphins may simply be more aggressive than others. The need to compile data on dolphin attacks does not appear to exist. According to data on shark attacks, there are typically only 10 fatalities out of an average of 72 unprovoked attacks per year worldwide. One can imagine that the number of dolphin attacks is much lower.
Can Mother Dolphins Be Aggressive and Dangerous?
When faced with predators, mother dolphins will defend their young. Killer whales and sharks are natural predators of dolphins. Dolphins frequently swim in groups called pods, and they will circle around the weaker or younger dolphins to protect them. Sharks appear to understand that it is not worthwhile to pursue a school of 100 or more dolphins. A mother protecting her young would probably be aggressive or dangerous if a human tried to threaten her.
Do Dolphins Fight Each Other?
Particularly during mating season, dolphins can fight one another to establish dominance or territory. They show dominance by “raking,” which involves dragging their teeth across the skin of another dolphin, leaving marks.
Could a Pod of Dolphins Be Dangerous Or Helpful?
If you were to get caught in the middle of a pod of dolphins, it might be dangerous. They might also help you survive! According to legend, dolphins have circled lost boaters or swimmers to keep them safe. In August 2021, People Magazine reported on one incident. They claimed to have discovered a missing swimmer who had been swimming off the coast of Ireland for 12 hours. A group of dolphins appeared to be protecting him by surrounding him. The victim of hypothermia was saved and taken to a nearby hospital to recover.
A great white shark was spotted nearby in 2014, and another swimmer, long-distance swimmer Adam Walker, reported being surrounded by a pod of dolphins at the time. He appeared to be guarded by the dolphins against the shark.
Is It Safe to Swim With Dolphins?
Like any other wild animal, dolphins should be respected and kept at a safe distance from humans when they are spotted in the wild. Bear in mind that wild animals can become agitated at any time. You’ll need to conduct your own research and assess the risks relating to captive dolphins used as tourist attractions. Some dolphins kept in captivity are used to spread awareness of the value of conserving wild animals like dolphins. Others are run by amateurs who are motivated by financial gain. Dolphins are social, intelligent creatures who are not usually dangerous.
Final Thoughts
Do dolphins pose a threat to humans? Not really, but they can be if they feel stressed, intimidated, or threatened.
It’s important to remember that dolphins are wild animals that are predators in their habitats and despite their permanent “smile” they are capable of killing humans.
Even the biggest apex predators in our oceans avoid dolphins because they are intelligent animals.
They have a set of sharp teeth and an incredibly hard and strong snout that they use to ram into people.
In the same way that Valerie experienced PTSD after being rammed by a dolphin swimming at 20 mph, being rammed by a dolphin can be fatal and result in permanent injuries.
Despite their appealing appearance, dolphins can be unpredictable and should always be approached with caution.
Thank you for reading, and feel free to stay and read more to find out more about dolphins and other marine life.
