‘Dangerous’ dolphin separating parents from children prompts Texas beachgoers to avoid ‘at all costs’

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Reports of a “dangerous” dolphin off North Padre Island, Texas, has prompted the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration to warn parents and pet owners to avoid the dolphin “at all costs.”

According to the organization’s news release on Thursday,

the situation for a habituated dolphin off North Padre Island, Texas is dire, threatening both human safety and the animal’s life. Biologists report the animal is showing more aggressive behavior, separating children from their parents in the water, and isolating swimming pets from their owners. 

NOAA

The dolphin has been in the area for more than a year, and NOAA has been discouraging people from feeding, swimming and interacting with it, but now the dolphin has become so used to humans, it “seeks out people, boats and any form of interaction.”

While the dolphin may seem friendly, authorities are urging everyone to stay away from the “wild animal.”

The following guidelines have been listed should the dolphin approach:

  1. If in a boat and the dolphin approaches, avoid stopping and slowly move away from the animal while maintaining the boat’s course and speed. People should keep their hands and feet inside of the boat and do not try to pet him.
  2. If a dolphin approaches a swimmer, it is recommended to immediately leave the area and avoid any interaction.

Research documents four stages of a lone dolphin becoming sociable and conditioned to people.  

Stage 1

The dolphin first shows up in the area and follows people but doesn’t approach them.

Stage 2  

The dolphin starts following boats and people, and people start to feed, play, swim with, or otherwise interact with it.  

Stage 3

The dolphin is now familiar with people, has lost its natural wariness to people and boats, and allows social interactions with people. 

Stage 4

The last stage, this is when the dolphin is now widely known, often with media attention. It becomes a tourist attraction with people coming to see and inappropriately interact with the dolphin. This can cause the dolphin to show dangerous behaviors toward people, including dominant and aggressive behaviors. The North Padre dolphin is in stage 4.   

The dolphins are protected from harassment and interaction that may injure or change its behaviors under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Feeding dolphins is also illegal.

Appreciate the beauty of the animals we share our planet with – there is no need to touch them.

(Photo: NOAA via Texas Marine Mammal Standing Network)

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