While there’s plenty of time still to go until all marine and sea life lovers get a little flipping excited, we thought we would still take some time out to discuss National Dolphin Day. Every year, this special day is celebrated by people up and down the country on the 14th of April.
This means this year, the second on Tuesday got a little better than the average midweek day. If you are looking for some great dolphin gifts, to give to people as part of your celebrations, we’ve already got you covered.
When is Nation Dolphin Day?: National Dolphin Day is celebrated every year on 14th April. This day is dedicated to dolphins, with the aim of educating people all about these amazing creatures and how they help protect the oceans and what we can do to help protect them.
As the special day is designed to celebrate while raising awareness about this awe-inspiring sea creature, we would highly recommend doing your part to help protect them. You can do this by signing up to adopt a dolphin today, or by taking a look at the great work carried out by Project Ocean.
To understand why these initiatives, exist and why National Dolphin Day is so important, let’s look at the aquatic creature in question a little closer.
Dolphins Are Part of the Cetacean Mammals Group
As part of the cetacean mammals’ group, dolphins are related to porpoises and whales. Think you know what a typical dolphin looks like? You may be surprised as they can range in size from as little as 4-feet to a whopping 30-feet in length.
Although they are found throughout the world, they are most comfortable and happy in shallower seas off continental shelves.
Amazing Heightened Senses
Dolphins are amazing from a biological view, as their eyesight both underwater and above the surface is better than a lot of sea animals. They also have a hypersensitive sense of touch, as their skin is packed with free nerve-endings.
As you are probably aware, they communicate making a wide range of different sounds through the nasal air sacs that sit below their blowhole. As communication is very important as part of their hunting techniques using sonar, they need great hearing.
Dolphins are Incredibly Sociable
Of all sea creatures, it’s dolphins that seem to have a strong affinity with humans most. In a similar way to horses and dogs. However, they are sociable among their own kind, with pods consisting of as many as 12 dolphins all living close to one another.
Even more fascinating is the fact some pods will merge where there is a great source of food, making what is often referred to as “superpods”. These superpods can have as many as 1,000 dolphins.
Although for prey they are a formidable and unrelenting predator, for their kin dolphins have been known to take loyalty and companionship to the extreme.
Not only do they form strong lasting bonds with the members of their pod, but they will also stay with ill or injured members and will even assist them if they are having trouble breathing by swimming them up to the water’s surface when necessary.
