Dolphins Protect Swimmers From Sharks - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

laceyinthesky · 11-24-2004, 02:36 AM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...nd_dolphins_dc

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - A pod of dolphins circled protectively round a group of New Zealand swimmers to fend off an attack by a great white shark, media reported on Tuesday.

Lifesavers Rob Howes, his 15-year-old daughter Niccy, Karina Cooper and Helen Slade were swimming 300 feet off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on New Zealand's North Island when the dolphins herded them -- apparently to protect them from a shark.

"They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us," Howes told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).

Howes tried to drift away from the group, but two of the bigger dolphins herded him back just as he spotted a nine-foot great white shark swimming toward the group.

"I just recoiled. It was only about 2 meters away from me, the water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face," Howes said, referring to a distance of six feet.

"They had corralled us up to protect us," he said.

The lifesavers spent the next 40 minutes surrounded by the dolphins before they could safely swim back to shore. The incident happened on October 30, but the lifesavers kept the story to themselves until now.

Environment group Orca Research said dolphins attacked sharks to protect themselves and their young, so their actions in protecting the lifesavers was understandable.

"They could have sensed the danger to the swimmers and taken action to protect them," Orca's Ingrid Visser told NZPA.

RustyShackleford · 11-24-2004, 03:40 AM

Do what? They don't even know how to swim away from a tuna net, let alone protect people from sharks, they have brains the size of a peanut, it surprises me that they even remember to breath, only thing the can do is reproduce and swim, and they can't play football.

ponytail · 11-24-2004, 06:35 AM

What a cool story! Dolphins are very intelligent. More so than most humans.

MandieR1980 · 11-24-2004, 07:54 AM

Dolphins are my favorite animal. I collect dolphin stuff and I'll be going to college majoring in Marine Biology

robyrob · 11-24-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RustyShackleford
Do what? They don't even know how to swim away from a tuna net, let alone protect people from sharks, they have brains the size of a peanut, it surprises me that they even remember to breath, only thing the can do is reproduce and swim, and they can't play football.

thats CRAAZY - dolphins are extremely intelligent, that's why I always have one do my taxes for me.

Chambers · 11-24-2004, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robyrob
thats CRAAZY - dolphins are extremely intelligent, that's why I always have one do my taxes for me.

I would...but I heard they charge way too much.

robyrob · 11-24-2004, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
I would...but I heard they charge way too much.

eh - mine's not too bad; he makes most of it back for you with that refund check

laceyinthesky · 11-24-2004, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RustyShackleford
Do what? They don't even know how to swim away from a tuna net, let alone protect people from sharks, they have brains the size of a peanut, it surprises me that they even remember to breath, only thing the can do is reproduce and swim, and they can't play football.

Maybe if you stopped watching NASCAR for a little while, you'd know that dolphins are one of, if not THE smartest, animals.

spunkygirl · 11-24-2004, 02:22 PM

That's amazing. Dolphins have always been my favorite animal.

USTVFanFromUK · 11-24-2004, 03:04 PM

Aww.... how cute lol

RustyShackleford · 11-24-2004, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by laceyinthesky
Maybe if you stopped watching NASCAR for a little while, you'd know that dolphins are one of, if not THE smartest, animals.

Hey look a snappy comeback, your insult does not mean a thing to me because I don't care what you or anyone thinks which is why I choose to difuse the situation.

Michael [hXc] · 11-24-2004, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RustyShackleford
Hey look a snappy comeback, your insult does not mean a thing to me because I don't care what you or anyone thinks which is why I choose to difuse the situation.

I don't think she meant it as an insult

But dolphins are one of the smartest animals, and this just proves it even more

robyrob · 11-24-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RustyShackleford
Hey look a snappy comeback, your insult does not mean a thing to me because I don't care what you or anyone thinks which is why I choose to difuse the situation.

saaaaaay, is that a shark in your bathtub with you there? betcha wish you were nicer to the dolphins now doncha?

:dolphin: :taxlawyer:

laceyinthesky · 11-24-2004, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RustyShackleford
Hey look a snappy comeback, your insult does not mean a thing to me because I don't care what you or anyone thinks which is why I choose to difuse the situation.

*diffuse

It's not what I think. It's true, dolphins are one of the smartest animals. To deny that is to deny fact.

RustyShackleford · 11-24-2004, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by laceyinthesky
*diffuse

It's not what I think. It's true, dolphins are one of the smartest animals. To deny that is to deny fact.

You know what you are right, they are smart I underestimated them all along, they have the intelligence and I failed to recognize that I apologize for my previous statement if I came off harsh and by the way thank you for informing me of my misspelled word that was very thoughtful

11-24-2004, 02:36 AM	#1
laceyinthesky Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 13, 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,906	Dolphins Protect Swimmers From Sharks http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...nd_dolphins_dc WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - A pod of dolphins circled protectively round a group of New Zealand swimmers to fend off an attack by a great white shark, media reported on Tuesday. Lifesavers Rob Howes, his 15-year-old daughter Niccy, Karina Cooper and Helen Slade were swimming 300 feet off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on New Zealand's North Island when the dolphins herded them -- apparently to protect them from a shark. "They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us," Howes told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA). Howes tried to drift away from the group, but two of the bigger dolphins herded him back just as he spotted a nine-foot great white shark swimming toward the group. "I just recoiled. It was only about 2 meters away from me, the water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face," Howes said, referring to a distance of six feet. "They had corralled us up to protect us," he said. The lifesavers spent the next 40 minutes surrounded by the dolphins before they could safely swim back to shore. The incident happened on October 30, but the lifesavers kept the story to themselves until now. Environment group Orca Research said dolphins attacked sharks to protect themselves and their young, so their actions in protecting the lifesavers was understandable. "They could have sensed the danger to the swimmers and taken action to protect them," Orca's Ingrid Visser told NZPA.

11-24-2004, 07:54 AM	#4
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	Dolphins are my favorite animal. I collect dolphin stuff and I'll be going to college majoring in Marine Biology
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

11-24-2004, 03:40 AM	#2
RustyShackleford Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 13, 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 369	Do what? They don't even know how to swim away from a tuna net, let alone protect people from sharks, they have brains the size of a peanut, it surprises me that they even remember to breath, only thing the can do is reproduce and swim, and they can't play football.

11-24-2004, 06:35 AM	#3
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	What a cool story! Dolphins are very intelligent. More so than most humans.

11-24-2004, 02:22 PM	#9
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	That's amazing. Dolphins have always been my favorite animal.

11-24-2004, 03:04 PM	#10
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	Aww.... how cute lol