Customer Reviews

Dolphins

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The author squeezes so much information into 90 pages that, at times, he sounds like an encyclopedia. He includes but goes beyond discussing dolphin types, habitats, family life, feeding habits, and echolocation. He explains, for example, how dolphins avoid turbulences in water when swimming at high speed; that they are the only animals that can follow instructions given on a TV screen; how they team up with sea birds or use tools to catch prey, and many other fascinating facts. Wonderful photographs show popular and lesser known dolphins such as the bottlenose and Irrawaddy dolphins in Cambodia, respectively, In the last chapter, the author also discusses ongoing research, and dangers dolphins face from commercial fishing practices, underwater noise pollution, and toxic effluent from land-based industry.

I wish the author had explained if and how research equipment attached to dolphins affects their swimming, social and feeding habits. Some of the equipment is quite substantial and must interfere in some way. On the one hand he seems so interested in how dolphins avoid turbulences, especially around their heads, on the other hand he does not explain how hydrophones attached to the dolphins' heads interfere with swimming speed, and other behaviors. Overall, however, it is an interesting book with lots of information.

This review is for Gallery Books' 1985 publication of Dolphins by Michael Bright. Dolphins is an excellent photograph and information book. There are many great action photographs showing dolphins jumping out of the sea into the air, "tail-walking" in performing at marine parks, and affectionately interacting with human trainers. It was interesting learning that dolphins' leaping manner of swimming actually saves energy and gives them the ability to reach top speeds. It was also interesting learning that dolphins like to position themselves on the pressure waves in front of moving boats and ships so that they can stop swimming and in essence surf along at speeds over 35 miles per hour. "Chapter 3 -- The Greatest Show On Earth" (pages 36-49) covers the history of dolphins in captivity at marine parks and concludes with the interesting fact that captive dolphins tend to prefer remaining with humans than returning to the sea. (A pleasant memory from the 1970s is going to Sea World and tossing small fish to energetic dolphins and sea lions in small pools. It was so exciting seeing the dolphins and sea lions vigorously and playfully rising up out of the water in the very close experience to catch the tossed fish in their mouths.) Dolphins have been seen helping injured dolphins and humans in distress at sea. The book concludes with advice on helping stranded dolphins and a quote from Plutarch: "To the dolphin alone nature has given that which the best philosophers seek: friendship for no advantage. Though it has no need of help of any man, yet it is a genial friend to all, and has helped man."

This is an awesome books on dolphins!Tells about feeding,family life,humans and dolphins,coservation and lots more. I don't know how so much info could be in 1 small book!The pictures are GREAT!I've looked at them a million times.No complaints here, I highly recommend this book!!