Dolphin’s, living creatures of the oceans, have been accompanying man and his vessels from ancient times. In the Antilles Sea also called Caribbean Sea has a warm and guaranteed protection, free or in captivity, they surprise children and adults for their intelligence and memory. They can be seen in aquariums for their wide dissemination along the Caribbean region and in general they are the main attractions of this centers. The most recent novelty is that tourists can swim in the company of this funny cetacean.

Dolphins and children suffering from autism

There are abundant literature on the benefits of this type of communications with calm animals, intelligent and serene as dolphins for children suffering mental disorders. Several institutes as the Human Dolphin of the United States have put into practice a number of rehabilitation programs for children with communication problems that basically consist of putting them in contact with wild dolphins. Thanks to these initiatives, positive results have been seen in children suffering from Down syndrome, achieving great results in their learning process, as well as in children suffering from autism who have properly developed their social relations. Dolphins are especially receptive with this type of children. Recently the Institute of Sea Science of Roatan, Honduras is aimed at applying this treatment, known by some as “biophilia” and by others as “dolphintherapy,” to children who have suffered abuses to ameliorate the effects of their trauma.

Dolphins it was a subject that drew the attentions of our ancestors and many people in ancient times. Homer referred to the dolphin as “the king of the sea and the master of fishes”. Goddess Thetis, mother of the 3,000 sea nymphs in Greek mythology, loved to ride on them along the sea. Romans used their slender figure in coins, on many occasions the sphinx of the animal was accompanied by an anchor, as a symbol of the power in the Mediterranean Sea. In heraldic times, dolphin figures could be seen in the coat of arms of the European noble families. In France, dolphin was a name that described the feudal lords closer to the king. Later this name turned into the title granted to the French heir of the throne.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS Dolphins are mammalians exclusively adapted to water life, with a speed of some thirty knots-somewhat more than forty-five kilometers-per hour. In relation to the jumping height, they may reach sometimes the six meters. They develop a high degree of socialization capability and love to swim in groups from tens to hundred dolphins. However what people find very surprising is the ability dolphins have for learning and obeying commands. Dolphins can communicate among themselves through whispers or sounds. Also jumping back in the water, flapping their fins and blowing their tails, may result on some occasions in a sort of language.

OUR FRIEND, THE TURSIOPS Among many species of dolphins, the so-called Tursiops truncatus is the best known. Though in Spanish is plainly named as “delfín” in English is also named “bottlenose”, as a reference of the shape of its nose, as a bottle neck. It is this specie what is frequently kept in captivity. The Caribbean Sea is its habitat, but they can be found in other regions of temperate or tropical waters. Adults reach between 1.9 and 3.8 meters long, the color is greyish, with some variations in shades lighter in the belly. They produce some sounds that when colliding with some objects an echo is heard, dolphins interpret the time that this echo takes to reach them and then calculate the distance. Another characteristic of dolphins is that they should be aware of their breathing. This means they can not be soundly asleep, they may forget to breathe and drown. Trainers achieved they performed very complex exercises. The best age to start training is from 5 to 7, when they are young. Some researchers contend that the ability shown by the dolphin’s mind can be placed at the level of man and anthropoid monkeys. They are the intellectuals of the sea beyond doubt.

DOLPHIN’S PARTY

In certain areas, you can have contact with dolphin in freedom, however you have to bear mind that in the United States (USA) is illegal to approach them. In spite of this, there are various operators who organize trips to have contact with them and to offer food. This thing is very dangerous for them because it could change their living habits. Its presence in blue waters of the Caribbean has made possible its capture and transfer to the aquariums of Mexico, Florida, Havana, Santo Domingo, Nassau, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and Maracaibo. For some time dolphin ponds are being developed, places where swimmers who can be accompanied by these charming animals. In Cuba there are dolphin ponds in Varadero and Bahía de Naranjo, Holguín, along the North coast and in Baconao Park , in the South littoral.