Dolphins are mammals living in the water, belonging to the order of cetaceans, are considered the most intellectually developed animals. So, experts are concerned about the question of why dolphins are washed ashore. There are several possible theories to explain this phenomenon.

By the way, not only cute dolphins are thrown, but also huge whales. One hundred percent proof of the reason why dolphins are washed ashore today does not exist. There is only a series of hypotheses that can be applied in each case.

Reasons why dolphins go ashore

Noise pollution

Dolphins do not possess eyesight, smell, or hearing, which are usual for other animals of this class, but accurately determine where a school of fish is located relative to them and where are obstacles along the route. All this is possible thanks to the echolocation system unique in the animal kingdom.

Dolphin perceives a sound of a certain frequency. Scientists have found that the maximum values ​​fluctuate around 150 kHz, which is significantly higher than that of humans. For an unmistakable orientation in space, the mammal makes peculiar sounds. This is usually a click or a whistle. A sound wave through the water reaches the object located on the path of the animal, is reflected from it and is caught by the hearing organs of the animal.In this way, dolphins not only find food, but also choose which way to swim.

Scientists believe that due to a number of circumstances, the normal functioning of the orientation system is disrupted. The poisoning of animals can be affected by poisoning with toxic substances that have fallen into the water, or by the operation of various devices. It is because of this that they are disoriented and can be massively found on beaches or stuck in coastal cliffs.

Predator attack

Sometimes the reason why dolphins are washed ashore can be an attack by predators. The main enemies of dolphins are killer whales, which belong to the same dolphin family. The brain of these black and white beauties is developed as well as that of the smaller relatives, only the size of the body and the appetite is much larger. Plus - sharks, but the dolphin pack copes with them, hammering with their blows the gills in the gills.

But the panic caused by a group of dolphins in a pack of dolphins can cause the first to jump ashore. Rather, they are aground, and the breaking wave rolls animals to land.

Passion of the hunt

Sometimes dolphins in the excitement of hunting - fish, squid, are also aground, which they can not get out on their own.

Old age or illness as a cause of ashore

Old age or illness can cause an echolocation disorder in the animal. Such animals make up 50% of those who were "on the beach" against their will.

Environmental degradation

The fact that the waters of the oceans are polluted annually is incontrovertible.The main problems recognized:

• wastewater;
• household garbage;
• enterprise emissions;
• petroleum products;

Pollution of waters gradually leads to the extinction of some animals that need clean water for existence. For the same reason, other organisms are forced to change their habitat. Scientists are inclined to assume that such a situation also affects dolphins with a special intelligence among mammals. According to one version, it is the deterioration of water quality in the oceans that entails defects in the sensory organs of animals, which is why they lose their orientation and approach a critically close distance to the coast.

Why dolphins are flocked to shore

The last reason dolphins are washed ashore is due to the high level of socialization of these animals. Animals keep in packs. They can be from 10 to several thousand individuals. Dolphins constantly communicate with each other. These mammals have an understanding of kinship, naming each other and helping a relative who is in trouble. Therefore, if one dolphin is stranded aground or is ashore, then his brothers seek to help him. And they themselves are trapped in shallow water.

What to do if a dolphin is ashore?

When the dolphin is on the beach, he quickly dies due to dehydration and drying out of his delicate skin. Dolphins have very delicate skin, they secrete a special liquid for better gliding of the dolphin under water. You can not let it dry, otherwise the animal will not be able to quickly swim and get its own food.

It is necessary to cover their bodies with wet rags - canvas, blankets. And if the condition of the animals allows, they slowly take them out to sea and take them away from the coast, where they can “turn on” their echolocation.

Since the statistics are kept and the reasons why dolphins are washed ashore are investigated, the figure is fixed - 2000 per year. Currently, studies are not suspended. Scientists are still looking for reasons, evidence and put forward new hypotheses for such animal behavior.