Contributing Writer
Capt. Cathy Eagle
A dolphin’s brain to body mass is second only to humans. Dolphins are extremely intelligent marine mammals and have made amazing achievements from saving people from shark attacks to saving dogs from drowning. Here are a couple examples of our heroic dolphins.
In 2014, a long-distance swimmer named Adam Walker, was going on an open water swim in the Cook Strait of New Zealand to raise money for a special event. The swim would take just over eight hours. During the swim he noticed a six-foot long great white shark swimming very close to him.
Great whites have 3,000 or so razor-like teeth that can easily kill other marine animals and humans. While Walker was very concerned, a group of about ten bottlenose dolphins arrived and surrounded him, swimming alongside of him.
The shark left instantly, but the dolphins continued to swim with Walker for the next hour to ensure his safety after the close encounter with the shark.
Ironically, Walker was swimming to raise money to support a global nonprofit whale and dolphin conservation program. It seems both species help each other.
In 2007, a pod of dolphins stopped a shark attack on surfer, Todd Endris, after he was bitten by a great white in Monterey, California. He initially was bumped hard by the shark and was thrown across the water.
The shark then followed him. Endris pinned his surfboard to his body and paddled with his hands to get away but the shark bit him in his torso. The surfboard saved his intestines but ripped open the skin and tissue on his back. The shark came back a third time and grabbed on to his right leg, slicing it open to the bone.
This is when the dolphins moved in and stopped the shark from coming back a fourth time.
The dolphins, who love to surf the same waves, heroically surrounded Endris, protecting him while he swam to shore for emergency first aid. He says he would have never survived without the dolphins protecting him and guiding him to the shore where friends were waiting to help.
Thanks to the dolphins, he survived the attack after having lost half of his blood.
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Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 45 years boating on our local waters. As a professional Charter Captain, she specializes in Dolphin and Nature Tours. You can reach her at CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 994-2572. Welcome aboard!
Capt. Cathy Eagle
Capt. Cathy's Boat Tours
Matlacha, Florida
(239) 994-2572
www.CaptainCathy.com
