Dolphins are widely regarded as one of the most intelligent and spiritually advanced animals. With their friendly and cute appearance, they are known for their sociable nature, communication skills, imitation, learning abilities, and even tool usage. These creatures can leap out of the water up to 7 meters high, enjoying playful jumps and flips in the big waves. However, recently, a whale-watching team was astonished to witness a wild dolphin walking on the water’s surface just like a human, a truly amazing sight.
In Monterey Bay, California, Evan Brodsky, a guide and photographer for Monterey Bay Whale Watch, led a group of tourists on a whale-watching expedition on the outer shores of Monterey Bay when they encountered this incredible scene last month.
They saw with their own eyes a wild Northern right whale dolphin suddenly transition from horizontal swimming to standing vertically on the sea surface, using its tail fin to rapidly slap the water, performing a rare skill known as “Tail Walking,” leaving everyone present in awe.
Brodsky promptly captured this precious moment on camera and shared it with the public on social media, exclaiming excitedly in the video, “I cannot describe how rare this behavior is!”
Monterey Bay Whale Watch also expressed their amazement on Instagram, stating, “This peculiar behavior is truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight, even for our professional team with decades of sailing experience, having only witnessed a few occasions that are ‘countable on one’s fingers.'”
The star of this extraordinary display was a Northern right whale dolphin. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this species is the only dolphin in the North Pacific region that doesn’t have a dorsal fin, boasting a sleek body. They typically gather in groups of 100 to 200 and are known for their high jumps.
Scientists note that the skill of dolphins “walking on water with their tails” usually only occurs in marine park performances, as trained dolphins are usually able to execute this movement. However, the reason for wild dolphins displaying this behavior remains unclear.
Previous reports have mentioned an incident in Australia where a wild dolphin named “Billie” was temporarily housed in an aquarium in Adelaide due to illness. During its stay, Billie observed trained dolphins performing the “tail walking” trick. Surprisingly, upon being released back into the ocean, Billie occasionally mimicked this behavior in the wild, with the behavior even spreading among the local wild dolphin population.
This cultural transmission phenomenon of playful imitation may provide a possible explanation for the California dolphin showcasing this rare skill.