Dolphins ride the waves

Australia Photographer Jessica Blacklow captured the amazing scene of dolphins surfing off Manly Beach, Sydney, on May 10.

"I've never seen so many dolphins riding on one wave. It was a lucky day for me. It happened so fast, then they disappeared," Blacklow shared.

This is not the first time dolphins have been caught riding waves. However, researchers are still unclear about the exact cause.

“There has been no significant research done to understand why dolphins surf. As far as we know, in many populations, dolphins can spend a lot of time socializing and playing,” said David Lusseau, professor of marine sustainability at the National Institute for Water Resources at the Technical University of Denmark.

“Play takes many forms, from interactions with objects like kelp, to human objects, to other animals. For example, in one population I studied, dolphins pulled on the lines of fishing cages to sink buoys, then released them at the bottom and raced them to the surface. They also played with kelp, holding it on their flippers or noses. These kelp games were sometimes social, with dolphins passing kelp to each other while others tried to catch it,” Lusseau added.

While play is an important part of dolphin behavior, there may be a more practical reason for surfing. According to Lusseau, dolphins are very good at using their environment to meet their needs, whether they are recreational or serious.

"Surfing in some cases can be understood as dolphins using the waves to hunt, hide or escape. If they are hunting, dolphins can hide themselves using the noise and pressure of the waves, thereby approaching their prey more effectively. Dolphins can also hide in the waves to chase or get close to other animals they are fighting or playing with. Additionally, dolphins can use the waves to hide, masking the pressure of the waves and the sound they create from other dolphins or predators," he explained.

Thu Thao (According to Newsweek )

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