NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2004 Dolphins are our friends 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2004 I heard about this story. Crazy stuff. And despite being seen as "cute" dolphins are some violent bastards. My one science teacher also said regarding 'fins is that they are the only other mammels on the planet, besides humans, that have sex for fun. Couple this story with the one about the lady getting chomped by a Great White, and I hope there isn't another media-driven hysteria about sharks like there was a few years back... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2004 Sharks > New Zealanders > Dolphins And if dolphins are as smart as everyone says they are, why would they risk their own lives to save these strangers? Stupid dolphins. /hates tuna Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2004 They were probably some gang and were looking for an excuse to beat up a shark... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2004 Good sandwich, you can really taste the dolphin. Flipper goes good with a glass of milk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DubWiser Report post Posted November 24, 2004 I remember years ago on the old board someone linked to a "Human/Dolphin Sex Manual", and it had "tips" from some dude on how to jerk them off and shit... An elegant thread, from a more civilized age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
