I know, I am Smart!!!

This holiday is celebrated throughout the world and in the grand scheme of things. Dolphin Day is perhaps one of the most well-known unofficial holidays of the world. Having gained steam in the 1990s and continuing into the present day, this holiday focuses on the worldwide plight of the dolphins. Considering how similar dolphins appear to be to ourselves, we may even call Dolphin Day one of the more “human” holidays that are celebrated.

Dolphins are cetacean mammals that are related to whales and porpoises.

Ranging is size from 4 ft to up to 30 feet; dolphins are among almost forty species in 17 genera. Dolphins are known to have acute eyesight both in and out of the water along with having a well-developed sense of touch, with free nerve endings densely packed in the skin.  They can hear frequencies ten times or more above the upper limit of what adult humans can and can make a broad range of sounds using nasal air sacs located just below the blowhole.

 

The United States National Marine Mammal Foundation conducted a study that revealed that dolphins, like humans, develop a natural form of type 2 diabetes which may lead to a better understanding of the disease and new treatments for both humans and dolphins.National Dolphin Day is listed as part of the American Veterinary Medical Association Pet Health Awareness Events.

Besides dolphins being abducted for amusement parks, as a bigger issue, they are being slaughtered in a special cove in Japan. This was kept as a secret for years, but people are trying to spread the Word recently. The Oscar winning documentary'The Cove', can enlighten you and show you how people try to hide this slaughter.

Shocking statistics suggest that over 95% of dolphin deaths are directly linked to human related causes. These friendly carnivores, who spend their days munching on mostly fish and squid, are directly affected by contamination of their natural environment from oil, heavy metals and chemical pollution. They are top of the food chain, so the effect of contamination is much worse as they will be eating fish and plants that have also been contaminated in different places, therefore they run the risk of ultimately consuming a contamination cocktail.

Oil drilling, ship engines and navigational sonars create constant underwater noise that can scare, confuse or even injure these cetacean mammals. Noise pollution can often drive the dolphins away from breeding and feeding grounds, making it extremely difficult to thrive.

 

Taking dolphins away from their natural surroundings into captivity is critically threatening to them, as they are exposed to disease, and the process of capture and transportation makes them extremely vulnerable. And the list goes on… They tend to get entangled in cages, shark safety and fishing nets and often collide with ships and rotor blades. They are also still victims of sport fishing to be used as bait or to reduce their presence in fishing areas.

Gatherings and awareness meetings take place in major cities across the globe. Some of largest venues include San Francisco, New York City and Tokyo. Traditionally, Dolphin Day places an emphasis on curtailing Japanese dolphin hunts, as these have received much publicity during the last decade. Each year, this worldwide event continues to gain a growing number of supporters. Hopefully, the near future will see a complete ban of dolphin hunting and while this holiday may no longer be needed, it will indeed be a happy ending for both the dolphins and their human advocates!
 

Carol Patel
Student
Young Reporter's Club