Dolphins
Photo credit: © Honkamaa | Dreamstime.com
Friendly Dolphins
In the 1900s, many ships crashed on the rocks along New Zealand’s
shore. Sailors had to be very careful. But they had a friend. When
sailors were near the dangerous Cook Strait, they would slow down
their ships and wait. Looking through spyglasses, they watched for
Pelorus Jack. He was a friendly dolphin. Pelorus Jack knew these
waters better than people did. He swam next to ships and guided
them safely through narrow, rocky channels. Some people say that
the ships Pelorus Jack guided never wrecked. Pelorus Jack grew
famous. Postcards with his picture were popular.
Many other dolphins have also swum alongside ships. Dolphins
probably do this to save their energy. A ship makes a wave in the
water as it moves. Dolphins use this wave to help them swim faster
or more easily. But for hundreds of years, sailors have considered
these dolphins to be good luck.
Pelorus Jack was only one of many well-known dolphins. Everyone
in New Zealand seemed to know Moko. He was a bottlenose dolphin.
For years, he charmed locals and tourists. Moko seemed to enjoy
playing with people at Mahia Beach. He tossed beach balls with
waders. He pushed kayaks with his nose. He jumped out of the water
and did flips. Local people and tourists loved Moko.
But Moko was more than a playmate. He was also a lifesaver.
In 2008, a mother sperm whale and her calf got trapped near the
beach. They swam into a narrow space near the shore. Then they
couldn’t find their way out. People tried to help the whales. But they
couldn’t guide them through the narrow escape route. It looked like
the whales might die.
From Building Character with True Stories from Nature by Barbara A. Lewis, copyright © 2012. Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 800-735-7323; www.freespirit.com.
This page may be reproduced for use within an individual classroom. For all other uses, contact www.freespirit.com/company/permissions.cfm.
Then Moko showed up. Somehow, he seemed to understand the
problem. Moko made strange little grunts and whistles. The whales
seemed to understand. They followed Moko to open water. The whales
swam away, safe and sound.
Dolphins help each other, too. Dolphins breathe air. But sometimes
when they are hurt or sick, they can’t get up to the water’s surface.
Some dolphins have lifted others to the surface to help them get air.
The playful, helpful behavior of dolphins has made them popular
with people. Dolphins have been in many movies and TV shows.
They’re natural stars. They even look like they’re smiling!
Dolphins aren’t just pretty faces, though. They are some of the
smartest animals. They communicate with clicks, whistles, and
grunts. They learn fast. They can be trained to understand human
words and commands. They even help people do their work. In a town
in Brazil, dolphins herd fish toward people waiting near shore. Then
the dolphins do quick little dives in the water. This tells the fishers
where to throw in their nets. The fishers respect these dolphins. They’re
grateful for their help. The fishers get a big catch. And the dolphins
eat fish that try to swim away from the nets. Working together, the
dolphins and people all get
more fish than they would
alone. What a team!
From Building Character with True Stories from Nature by Barbara A. Lewis, copyright © 2012. Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 800-735-7323; www.freespirit.com.
This page may be reproduced for use within an individual classroom. For all other uses, contact www.freespirit.com/company/permissions.cfm.