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| The Dolphin Project | **Note: To return to Lloyds Limited from a contributor's site, simply click the “X” on the upper right corner of the contributor's web site window. | |
| dolphin.wwwa.com Founded by Dr. Denise Herzing in 1985, the Wild Dolphin Project has been studying the life history and communication system of a resident group of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the Bahamas. These dolphins inhabit a shallow sandbank in the open ocean off of the Bahamas. These are not captive animals. The continuous presence of the dolphins and the unusual clarity of the water allow underwater observation and photography for extensive periods of time, and provide a unique and remarkable opportunity to study the three-dimensional, underwater world of wild dolphins. The field study is based on the premise that the best way to learn about dolphin behavior, social interactions, and language is to unobtrusively watch the animals in their own world, record their movements and sound on videocamera, and carefully analyze the collected data. The objectives of this study are to follow this population of dolphins over the years and document their life history, social structure, and communication system within a natural social context and with a minimum of human interference; to educate the public about these animals and the dangers they face in their increasingly hazardous ocean habitat; and to work with other responsible groups toward the goal of healthier oceans. |
After more than fourteen years of
studying one pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins--in their world, on their terms-- the Wild
Dolphin Project has learned much that is new about dolphin life in the wild. There are good reasons to learn more. Pollution and other human activities make the oceans increasingly dangerous environments for the creatures that inhabit them. It's becoming urgent that humans find ways to make the oceans safer, or we may end up losing much more than we ever anticipated. To successfully do this we need the kind of basic scientific information that has been developed by the Wild Dolphin Project over the past fourteen years. This long-term, baseline data is crucial to the future welfare of dolphins all over the world. For more information regarding spotted dolphins and the Wild Dolphin Project, see these resources. For more information about dolphins and whales: |
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