Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[nztravelguide]

George, local resident and water star, hurries to meet the Able Tasman sea shuttles catamarans every time they go out all the way to Awaroa Bay. Loves the people and shuns all the other dolphins. Smart cookie he is.

Historicaly known dolphins who enjoyed human company was "Opo" in the '50's in Northland where she entertained thosands. She juggled beach balls and beer bottles on her snout, made national headlines and even inspired a popular song.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's "Pelorus Jack" a white dolphin accompanied boats for 24 years in Pelorua Sound and French Pass in the Marlborough Sounds.

I notice now we have several hanging out year round in the Queen Charlotte Sound at Picton. Maybe one will become a legend?

[starlagurl]

Why do they do that? Is it just because they notice they get to eat more food if they do what the humans want? Or is it something more than that?

[nztravelguide]

Why do they do that? Is it just because they notice they get to eat more food if they do what the humans want? Or is it something more than that?

I lived 20 years in the Florida keys and spent a lot of time with dolphins that hung around our area. Their intelligence is very high. I had a friend who worked with them in captivity and each had a very refined personalty. These were bottle-nose dolphin that seems to have a real affinity for humans.
We had two at the marina where my boat was who lived there. Whenever we took the boat out they made sure to join us out the canal to the open sea and then they returned to the marina.
There was a small pool that they would go to in the evening and the person who lived there would feed them every night.
They were free to come and go as they liked and actually had babies there..........I have a lot of time for dolphins and used to swim with them a lot while living in the Caribbean and when we sailed south for the winter to Jamaica we always encountered hundreds in various pods and they all came to the boat to swim along the side............love 'em.............

[starlagurl]

It reminds me a lot of the way that dogs act, the dolphins seem to be very loyal....hmm...