May 26, 2022

The dolphin has become accustomed to humans and is now displaying dangerous behavior. It should be avoided at all costs.

The situation for a habituated dolphin off North Padre Island, Texas is dire, threatening both human safety and the animal’s life. Biologists report the animal is showing more aggressive behavior, separating children from their parents in the water, and isolating swimming pets from their owners.

Human interaction is to blame for the dolphin’s increasingly aggressive behavior. For more than a year, biologists, law enforcement, and residents of the area have discouraged people from feeding, swimming, or interacting with the dolphin. While some have heeded the warnings, others continue to seek out the animal.

The dolphin has become so used to humans that it now seeks out people, boats, and any form of interaction. In addition to the concerns for human safety, the dolphin has wounds caused by boats and there are concerns for the dolphin’s safety with increased watercraft activity over the upcoming holiday weekend.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-advises-public-avoid-aggressive-dolphin-north-padre-island