‘Dolphin’ dives into communications

Susan E. Parks

Dolphins are more mysterious than you might have imagined.

Love dolphins? Dolphins have long sparked the human imagination. A recent book seeks to dispel some of the mysteries surrounding these high-profile animals, providing a delightful look into their lives.

Whether your only experience with dolphins comes from “Flipper,” you are an avid dolphin enthusiast, or you are simply interested in learning more about the natural world, everyone is likely to learn something new about these fascinating creatures from “Dolphin Mysteries: Unlocking the Secrets of Communication,” an engaging and accessible book that will appeal to a broad audience.

This book provides a glimpse into the world of cetacean (whale and dolphin) research, focusing on one of the most studied species. The authors manage to cover and introduce a wide range of topics, spanning decades of research in a very few pages. They provide a window into the world of dolphins and give the reader a better understanding of the world that they live in and how they interact with one another.

The book is both easy to understand and entertaining, keeping you turning the pages with an engaging blend of specific details and facts intertwined with the personal experiences of the authors with dolphins and other marine mammals.

The personal touches in the book give insight into the world of marine mammal researchers as well, with stories about other animals, including beagles, belugas, and elephants, that have influenced the careers of the authors.

Topics covered include behavior, conservation, communication, cognition, and an excellent summary of human/dolphin interactions. For example, did you know that some dolphins regularly cooperate with fishermen to herd and catch fish?

The book does not go into great detail on any one particular topic, but provides a nice overview, pointing readers to other sources if they are interested in more background information on specific issues. Touching and enlightening reviews of the conservation and animal welfare issues surrounding both captive dolphins and wild dolphins round out the book. An appendix at the end even gives etiquette guidelines on how to interact with dolphins in the water.

Public education about the realities of dolphin behavior and conservation status is extremely important. Many misconceptions exist about the perpetually smiling, friendly dolphin. The authors give insight into the typical communication and interactions of dolphins with humans, the potential for miscommunication and real risks involved with interacting with these wild animals, and suggestions on how to improve these encounters.

Whether you are curious about animal behavior, or specifically want to learn more about dolphins to interact with them in the wild, this book has something for everyone.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about dolphins and the wide range of research areas related to their biology and conservation. The authors’ enthusiasm and passion for dolphin research is evident in every page. Before you see a dolphin and jump into the water, read this book! It definitely provided more information than I expected in such a small package.

Susan Parks is an assistant professor of acoustics and a research associate studying marine bioacoustics at Penn State.