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One of the most delightful experiences to be had in Hawaii is an encounter with wild
dolphins. According to Robin Baird, Director of the Pacific Whale Foundation's Wild Dolphin Research Team, at least eight species of dolphin have been seen throughout the Hawaiian
archipelago. The dolphins that you're likely to encounter around Maui County are the bottlenose dolphin, the spinner dolphin, and the spoted dolphin. Bottlenost dolphins have the appearance that most
people associae with dolphins. Their coloring is charcoal gray fading to light grey on the belly, and their noses are short and shaped like stubby bottles. Bottlenose are usually found swimming
in groups of two to twelve animals.
Spinner dolphins are named for their fascinating habit of leaping into the air, and
rotating (or "spinning") up to fuor times around on their
longitudinal axis. Researchers don't know why these dolphins spin, but theorize that it may be a way to communicate their location within a school to each other.
Relatively petite,
spinner dolphins average five to six feet in length and weigh less than 200 pounds. Spinner dolphins are tri-colored, with a drak dorsal area, gray flanks, and while bellies (which turnpink when
the dolphins are excited.) This coloring, which scientists call countershading, provides a form of camouflage. When viewed from below the water's surface by predators, the dolphins' while underside
blends with the color of water. When viewed from above, the water looks dark, and the dolphins' darker backs blend in.
Spinner dolphins are usually found in larger schools ranging from 20 to 40
animals and up to hundreds of animals at a time. They feed at night on small fish and squid,
working together in very large groups in deep water. During the day, they rest in quiet coves and
bays, gradually becoming more active in preparation for their evening food pursuit. To protect these dolphins, the Pacific Whale Foundation urges boaters and swimmers to avoid chasing or pursuing them
during their daytime rest periods.
The Pacific Whale Foundation's Wild Dolphin Project is in its fourth year of studying
the dolphins found near Maui and Lanai. For more information about their
research, please call 879-8860. |
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