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From: Wade Doak
Date: 02-03-08
Time: 08:55
From Angie Golan of Zanzibar:
Beever is one of those male dolphins that can at times make one feel slightly intimidated, his sneaky, direct approach, often from behind and slightly below, startles. A couple of weeks ago Angie's experience with Beever left her feeling so. "With moontime on my mind and physically manifested in my body I entered into the water with two guests, a father and son. Quietly waiting for them to approach, a curtain of dolphins ˆ mostly males materialized in front of me with a cacophony of upsweep whistles and direct sonar pulses. At first I had initially thought a class d (pass through) swim was about to unfold, only to find Beever and another male hang back and entertain us onlookers with sand and bottom rubbing over rocky outcrops off Madejanine point. What happened next took me completely by surprise as Beever made a direct and somewhat energetic approach. With camera rolling I tried to keep up with his some what turbulent approaches as he would come in at high speed and swerve off just a few centimeters past me, this lasted for a couple of minutes until I eventually called Harry ˆ quite adamantly I might add, to get me out of the water NOW! On re-counting my story to guests on the boat the father asked me if the dollies were trying to ram me ˆ mmm, not quite I mused!"
Back on the beach wildlife guru Garrick was consulted and informed us that in the bush ladies in moontime were not permitted to walk with the wild animals as it is said that they are likely to pick up this monthly phase of a woman. Needless to say, this is now an interesting and humorous topic on the dolphin boat as both Harry and Roxy, whom had a similar experience with Beever last week watch in anticipation as I sometimes reluctantly enter into the water with the males.
WADE'S COMMENT : I have several accounts in my archive of male dophins responding in this way from NZ to the Bahamas. Pheromones signals are pretty much universal. In one case the dolphin 'possessed' the woman diver, with his tail over her head. To my knowledge there has not been any violation however.
Last changed: 02-Mar-2008