ArchiveXYZ: DANCING WITH THE DOLPHINS

     In Portugal, dolphins can be seen in their natural habitat at Azores islands, at Sado’s mouth (Setúbal), at Algarve’s coast and in the last years also in Tejo’s mouth (Lisbon). At Azores and Sado there’s still some large communities of dolphins (bottlenose dolphins) but they had disappeared from Tejo since the 60s, due mainly to the increase of pollution in the waters that caused a decrease of the amount of fish in the river. In the last years the program of treatment of the residual waters thrown into the river had positive results. The amount of fish increased again and the dolphins returned to Tejo. Each adult dolphin needs 15-20 kg of fish every day and now they have enough food to survive in the river.
     In artificial habitats, they can be seen at the Lisbon Zoo (Bay of the Dolphins) and at the Zoomarine (Guia-Albufeira, Algarve). I saw them several times in both places. In both cases they seem very well treated, comfortable and happy. Last August, I went again to Zoomarine and saw two different shows with a group of seven dolphins. The joy of the animals and their trainers was obvious and touching. The dolphins really enjoy what they are doing, they like the contact with humans and react joyfully to the voices and applause of the public. They are especially tender with the children as if they knew that they are more sensitive and fragile.
    They play, they “run”, they fly, they dance… The music, either noisy or calm, and the rhythm of a cadenced sound like the applauses are very appealing to them. They are agile, energic, meticulous and elegant in their movements. They really follow a determined choreography. The affective interaction with their trainers is the most touching. There’s a full and reciprocal trust between trainers and dolphins… or it would be impossible to do what they both do, for many of those exercises / games / dances could be dangerous and result in serious injury in both. It’s reassuring and gratifying to see such joy and harmony.
     The most part of the dolphins were born in the Zoomarine and the healthy life they lead allows them to overpass the common longevity of a dolphin. The oldest dolphin is now more than 45, quite old for a dolphin.
     The Zoomarine also has a sanctuary for wild animals in danger, sick or injured. For example, they treat the dolphins captured accidently by the fishermen nets.
     At the Zoomarine there’s also an Aquarius with many different species, including sharks and rays. It’s incredible how raias are sociable and swim very swiftly. They swim close to the surface of the giant tank and it is possible to caress them. Their skin feels like wet velvet…
     There are other animals in the Zoomarine mainly birds, like parrots, macaws, flamingos, swans, ducks, turtles, etc. Close to the pool of the turtles there is a machine where one inserts a coin to obtain a certain amount of food to feed them. They are extremely attentive and smart. They look constantly in the direction of the machine and if someone picks a coin they all run in that direction even before one inserts the coin in the machine!
    There’s also a fairground with several attractions mainly to the children. The view from the top of the giant wheel is really beautiful and allows a general view of the whole of the team park which is quite big.
    Below is a selection of photographs taken in two different shows with the same group of seven dolphins and two videos made with photographs of both shows.

Zoomarine oficial site: http://www.zoomarine.pt/en
Zoomarine (internacional): http://www.zoomarine.com/