Sandycove high tide. 1:47am

Not all Dolphins are "Flipper"

One lone, sociable dolphin was locally
acclaimed for ‘saving’ a drowning boy (‘Flipper’); however,
others achieved notoriety for ‘abducting’ people who then had
to be saved by boat (e.g. ‘Donald’, ‘Percy’). At least 13 dolphins
had periods of mis-directed sexual behaviour towards humans,
buoys, and/or vessels, and approximately two-thirds (at least 18)
directed aggressive behaviour towards humans. Dolphin-tohuman
aggression sometimes resulted in such serious human
injury as unconsciousness, a ruptured spleen, and broken ribs,
(e.g. ‘Donald’, an unnamed dolphin from Florida Keys) or even
death (‘Tiao’).

Extract from: http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/lb/Samuels%20Bejder%20et%20al%202003.pdf

Butterfly at Vico

Think Twice before jumping in with dolphins!

Dolphins: Flipper or Killer?

Science World, Oct 18, 1999 by Melissa Stewart

REALITY CHECK

In the end, scientists have much to learn about dolphin behavior. But they've concluded that, like other large mammals, wild dolphins engage in violent acts and can be dangerous to other animals and even humans. In recent years, travel agents have begun wooing tourists with boat trips that highlight swimming with wild dolphins. Experts are concerned about reports that wild dolphins have bitten, hit, and bodyslammed swimmers. "Wild dolphins need to be viewed with respect and kept at a safe distance," says Dunn.

Entire article here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_4_56/ai_57041274/