Why do wild dolphins go out of their way to save humans?

[Deleted]

Pictured: Dolphins are known to put themselves at risk to save humans from danger. Scientists are unable to explain this behaviour.

Wild dolphins go out of their way to save humans from drowning and from sharks. They bring drowning humans to the surface of the water to save them. A group of dolphins will go out of it's way to make sure the human is breathing, safe and strong enough to carry on, before leaving.

Also when a human is in danger from a shark, they have been known on numerous occasions to surround the human, scare away the shark, and escort the human safely back to shore. Or they stay with the human until the shark leaves before going on their way.

Scientists have a few theories but they have no real explanation as to why dolphins would bother saving humans. It is believed by most scientists that the dolphins are merely sympathetic & empathetic and just want to help. They have been documented rescuing people for over 2000 years.

Why do you think wild dolphins go out of their way to save humans from drowning and even sharks?


Some cases of dolphins saving humans from drowning:

http://www.eurocbc.org/page158.html
http://www.news.com.au/beluga-whale-...-1225756241559
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Dol...125339033.html
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/19/saved-by-dolphins/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episo...hris-cruz/136/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ody-shore.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...surfboard.html
http://www.kajama.com/index.php?file...B29D&PageNum=1
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news....id=51079184603
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...n-Red-Sea.html

Dolphins save people from Sharks too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4034383.stm
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/216890.../#.T9BMftVo23Y
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...and041124.html
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/...t-from-sharks/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2145887.stm

Dolphins help save Whales:

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf035/sf035p09.htm

They even save dogs:

http://www.earthweek.com/2011/ew110311/ew110311e.html

[Priestion]

Because dolphins are extremely intelligent, have their own language, and are self-aware. In other words, they're fucking awesome!

[Irisel]

Cause they're like "fucka shark"

[Deleted]

Some say that dolphins are beings of far greater intelligence. Here on Earth to help guide us and make life a little better, in their chosen temporary dolphin forms. I'm not too sure about that, but they are pretty awesome. :P

"Poor human is drowning. Let's push him to the surface."

[Deleted]

Dolphins are the second most intelligent being on the Earth, after Mice and just before Humans.

So long and thanks for all the fish.

[Deleted]

So that when they take over the surface, humans will know better than to mess with them.

[guff]

Why do humans go out of their way to save dolphins?

[AdriWar]

Dolphins used to help the mermaids way back when, which is why they assist humans like us so well.

[Eis]

Because dolphins are extremely intelligent, have their own language, and are self-aware. In other words, they're fucking awesome!

Well, this, plus they're obviously smarter and nicer than us.

-_-

[Beach-Babe]

I read somewhere that its because since dolphins are mammals they understand the concept of drowning so they help humans to prevent them from drowning.

I don't really know just a theory I read somewhere.

[Zyzzyx]

They will eventually need slaves.

[Jeleh]

Give it a few million years humans will be dead and dolphins rule the world.

[Intrikat]

Dolphins used to help the mermaids way back when, which is why they assist humans like us so well.

Pretty much this

[smartAXE]

"Dolphins get a lot of good publicity for the drowning swimmers they push back to shore, but what you don’t hear about is the many people they push farther out to sea! Dolphins aren’t smart. They just like pushing things."
-Dwight K. Schrute

[Deleted]

I read somewhere that its because since dolphins are mammals they understand the concept of drowning so they help humans to prevent them from drowning.

Actually yes, dolphins can "see" our skeletons and hear our hearts beating with echo-location. So they know we are similar to them and also mammals. That's why they are so fascinated with pregnant mothers, they can actually hear the baby's heart beating, and essentially "see" it with sonar.

This too.

Well, this, plus they're obviously smarter and nicer than us.

-_-

[Kaleredar]

Well, this, plus they're obviously smarter and nicer than us.

-_-

Ehhhh if you look at Dolphin to Dolphin relations, they aren't exactly all around kind, altruistic creatures... Dolphins will exile weaker members of their pod, males will kill the young of other Dolphins, have been known to rape other Dolphins, and will kill porpoises for no discernible reason whatsoever.

[Evil Inside]

Ehhhh if you look at Dolphin to Dolphin relations, they aren't exactly all around kind, altruistic creatures... Dolphins will exile weaker members of their pod, males will kill the young of other Dolphins, have been known to rape other Dolphins, and will kill porpoises for no discernible reason whatsoever.

So basically like some human beings?

[Deleted]

So basically like some human beings?

Scientists have found that every dolphin actually has it's own unique personality.

So maybe the dolphins that do that are the sociopath dolphins. :P

[Mengucekli]

They are a good hearted and fair species.

[Twiddly]

They are a good hearted and fair species.

And that is also why they attempt to have sexual intercourse with humans sometimes as well, quite forcefully?