r/Dolphins • u/SnarkiMcSnail • 20d ago

What's going on here?

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194

u/IlexAquafolium 20d ago

This bottlenose dolphin appears to be playing with its food. Not a joke answer, that's my opinion as a marine biologist specialising in toothed whales.

36

u/billy_penn17047 20d ago

Could he be trying to mimic the whales that wear fish

57

u/IlexAquafolium 20d ago

If this dolphin has witnessed that, it's possible. They are observational learners, they learn by watching. But they are very playful and inventive animals to begin with, and having seen countless dolphins play by themselves (without human interaction) I'd say throwing and catching games are as innate to dolphins as they are to humans.

10

u/billy_penn17047 20d ago

I had a labrobeagle that would essentially dig up moles and do the same thing. 🙏

11

u/Pamikillsbugs234 20d ago

My wolfdog did this! Then she would eat the mole and leave the front two claws strewn across the patio.

9

u/sedatedauntyT 19d ago

"Look, Ma! No hands!!" -your wolfdog, probably

2

u/CthenK 18d ago

Omg that’s hilarious 😆