Dolphins use human shields against orcas

A pod of bottlenose dolphins was seen apparently trying to use people swimming near Picton as human shields to protect themselves from something else in the water.

Sun (men (Dolphin Watch guide)) conjunct Salacia (things that take refuge in the sea, affiliation with dolphins) sextile Sedna (sea creatures).

The dolphins were in panic. “They are seeking refuge behind the people and behind the sailors,” says Dolphin Watch guide Paul Luxton. Twenty-five kilometres away is a pod of orcas.

Natural history filmmaking student Tess Brosnan couldn’t believe what she was filming.

“There was one swimmer who was just by himself and they were all milling around him, seeking refuge,” she says.

Almuth Waechter was training for an ocean swim when she was surrounded by the dolphins.

“They came towards us at lightning speed and I was just holding very still, thinking ‘I hope they see me,’” says Ms Waechter. “We were a bit scared because someone said something is chasing them.”

Most dolphins disappear when orcas are in the area because they’re prey. One marine expert believes this pod of orcas was too far away to cause such unusual behaviour and something else was causing the distress – possibly a shark nearby. Regardless, there were clear signs of distress.

“Very, very minimal time underwater – they were on the surface real close together consoling each other and there was a lot of tail slapping as well,” says Mr Luxton. “They slap their tails on the water. It’s a real nervous behaviour.”

It is nervous, but crowd-pleasing behaviour.

Minor planet keywords developed by Philip Sedgwick, used with permission http://philipsedgwick.com/

Source: newshub.co.nz