The Sarasota Dolphins is a population of bottlenose dolphins that primarily reside off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. (click title to entry - thank you)
The Sarasota Dolphin program has been in existence for four decades. Can anyone fathom a guess to the importance of four decades of research with this population of dolphin?
The Sarasota Dolphins are completely wild and the scientists that work with them are very careful of the contact made with them because they are so very smart and very gregarious any bonding would effect the nature of their behaviors.
This population of dolphins has been a treasure trove of information regarding, are you ready for this? Language. An acoustical scientist out of Woods Hole and UNCW knows the 'sounds and calls' of each individual. She can identify new babies by the calls of the mother. We know for a fact these dolphins have distinctive language sounds used to communicate with each other. We know for a fact that contact with humans changes their patterns of communication.
We also know that when oil goes into the blow holes when they take a breath, that it will kill them. Do you want to know what a death cry of a dolphin sounds like? Well, we might be able to find out real soon.
