Humans and dolphins have been interacting since humans formed organised groups in coastal regions. Our own coastal Australian Aborigines have formed alliances with coastal dolphin pods who assisted them to feed their mobs by driving shoals of fish into bays where they were netted and caught. These dolphins were then rewarded with a share of the catch. Dolphins form an integral part of the 'dreaming' of coastal Aborigines.
In Kombana Bay Bunbury a Dolphin Centre has been established at the very site that coastal Aborgines frequented where Bottlenose dolphins come into the bay and meet thousands of tourists every year. We name them, we love them, they have personalities and are sentient beings.
When they are in the open ocean and such a circumstance occurs where dolphins choose to interact with humans they do so out of 'free will'. They are willing to interact.
In ancient Greece at the temple of Delphi some say that this was the source and inspiration of our current forms of government, literature, agriculture, the arts, all inspired by the Dolphin and by dolphin / human interaction. This was a place believe it or not, were we would actually come to be counseled by the dolphins through human interpreters. Where wisdom and balance reigned giving rise to one of the greatest civilizations this planet has known.
My friend and mentor Dr Horace Dobbs, scientist and researcher has spent a good part of his long and colourful life interacting with, studying and observing the phenomenon of Ambassador Dolphins. He has filmed and produced several documentaries about these dolphins, spending more one-on-one time with these dolphins than virtually anyone on this planet alive today.
Horace is quite possibly the most qualified person to speak on this topic however his defence of two young men charged with "disturbing" a wild dolphin in Dover Magistrates Court near Folkestone U.K was to no avail. The magistrate has upheld the police charges, although video was produced for prosecution purposes valuable video in the form of one of Horace's well known BBC dolphin documentaries that may have given the magistrate a more balanced view was not permitted to be shown.
This local court judgment may have profound and potentially world-wide impact in the case of human / dolphin interaction in the wild. Here is the press release provided by Jackie Connell from International Dolphin Watch and will hit headlines in the UK TODAY
PRESS RELEASE, Thursday
17th April 2008
Today David Buck and Michael Jukes were found guilty at Dover Magistrates Court of disturbing a friendly wild female dolphin, known as Dave, at Sandgate near Folkestone at around 5.30am on 9th June 2007.
A local resident videoed the men playing with the dolphin. The police were called and the two young men were arrested and charged with disturbing the dolphin.
After several delays, the case was opened on 4th February 2008 and then adjourned until 14th April 2008.
The prosecution was strongly supported by representatives from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), and Marine Connection, who jointly have a policy that swimming with wild dolphins should be banned.
This view was diametrically opposed by Dr. Horace Dobbs, The Honorary Director of International Dolphin Watch http://www.idw.org/.
Dr. Dobbs argued that by deliberately swimming to the men from further out to sea and then encouraging them to play with her was natural behaviour for what he calls âAmbassador Dolphinsâ, i.e. sociable wild dolphins seeking human company, like Dave.
The three magistrates viewed the police video. The prosecution however, objected to the magistrates seeing a DVD provided by Dr. Dobbs showing the typical behaviour of other sociable wild dolphins.
When the verdict was announced, the men were each given fines of £350 and 120 hours community service. After announcing a verdict, the chief magistrate warned the two men that if they did not comply with these penalties, they could be given custodial sentences.
When the verdict was announced, Dr. Dobbs commented âthe prospect of being put in jail for interacting with a playful dolphin that swims up to you in the open sea and can swim away at any time in my opinion is ludicrousâ.
For most people dolphins, such as Dave, are symbols of freedom. Dolphins are mammals with a brain as large as humans and with a free will. To deliberately prevent their natural behaviour is a sad reflection on organisations promoting this policy.
Dr. Horace Dobbs can be contacted by phone on 079795 22276 and 01482 632650, Email horace@drdobbs.karoo.co.uk, fax 01482 634914.
Dr. Dobbs is Patron of a registered charity 1121315, Operation Sunshine Family Therapy Programmes, that take special needs families to swim with dolphins in their natural environment http://www.operationsunshine.org/
Dr. Dobbs will be attending a scientific conference in May in Dingle where the issues involving friendly wild dolphins will be debated http://www.irishdolphins.com/conference/ .
Andrew Parker is a facilitator and presenter who owns and operates DolphCom Solutions in Newcastle Australia providing the opportunity for people to meet with dolphins and whales in the wild where they are free to come and go as they choose.
Visit www.dolphcom.com.au
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