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Aug. 31st, 2008 04:32 pmThis is so cool! From the Sydney Morning Herald:
WILD dolphins are being taught to "tailwalk" by a dolphin which learned the trick in captivity before it was freed.
Three dolphins in a pod living off the Adelaide coast have taken to tailwalking, and scientists say they seem to do it simply for fun.
"Dolphins only do the tailwalk after they have been taught to do it by humans in captivity," said Mike Bossley of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
He has watched the Adelaide dolphins for many years and was stunned when he found one female bottlenose dolphin, Billie, teaching others. ''I couldn't believe my eyes," Dr Bossley said. "We had no idea dolphins could teach each other behaviour like this.
"Billie was held in captivity 20 years ago for a few weeks and must have seen other captive dolphins tailwalking to get food rewards.
"After she was released she met up with a pod and started tailwalking in front of them.
"Only adult females are doing it. We haven't been able to tell if they are doing it to impress the males, or just showing off their skills."
WILD dolphins are being taught to "tailwalk" by a dolphin which learned the trick in captivity before it was freed.
Three dolphins in a pod living off the Adelaide coast have taken to tailwalking, and scientists say they seem to do it simply for fun.
"Dolphins only do the tailwalk after they have been taught to do it by humans in captivity," said Mike Bossley of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
He has watched the Adelaide dolphins for many years and was stunned when he found one female bottlenose dolphin, Billie, teaching others. ''I couldn't believe my eyes," Dr Bossley said. "We had no idea dolphins could teach each other behaviour like this.
"Billie was held in captivity 20 years ago for a few weeks and must have seen other captive dolphins tailwalking to get food rewards.
"After she was released she met up with a pod and started tailwalking in front of them.
"Only adult females are doing it. We haven't been able to tell if they are doing it to impress the males, or just showing off their skills."
