Stories about dolphins saving people do indeed exist and are documented, but there is still no definitive scientific explanation for this phenomenon. Scientists propose several versions, which can be divided into two groups: some believe it is a manifestation of instinct, while others attribute it to high intelligence and emotional perception.

Version one: instincts and reflexes

This group of theories explains the behavior of dolphins through innate programs, rather than conscious decisions to help.

• Instinct of caring for offspring. Dolphins are mammals, and females often push newborn calves to the surface so that they can take their first breath. This reflex of pushing could have become a universal response to any large object that needs to be lifted from the bottom over time. That's how dolphins sometimes save both their sick companions and even other animals.
• Play and curiosity. Dolphins are very playful. They may perceive a swimming person or boat as an interesting object for play and simply push it, like a toy. In some cases, this accidentally leads a person to the shore, but it may also end with the dolphin pushing them into the open sea.
• Territory protection. There are cases where dolphins have driven sharks away from people, forming a tight circle around them. However, this may be related not to sympathy for humans, but to the fact that sharks are perceived as competitors or threats to the dolphins themselves, especially to their offspring.

Version two: intelligence and emotions

Another group of researchers believes that it is not enough to explain everything through reflexes, as the dolphin brain is very complex.

• Empathy and recognition of emotions. Scientists note that dolphins are capable of recognizing emotions such as fear or panic and can experience something like empathy for a creature in distress.
• Conscious help. Some experts insist that dolphins can understand that a person needs help and make a deliberate decision to act.

An important nuance: it's not always a rescue

It is worth remembering that the behavior of dolphins is not always predictable and not always friendly. They are wild animals, and their actions can be dangerous.

• Aggression and risks. Cases of aggressive behavior, including sexual harassment of people and causing injuries, have been documented. A pod of dolphins may play with a person like a ball, leading to serious injuries.
• Lack of guarantees. Scientists emphasize that cases of rescue are not the rule but the exception. Do not expect a wild dolphin to jump in to save you in a critical situation. Moreover, wild dolphins usually avoid humans, and their friendliness is more often associated with tamed individuals that have been specially trained for interaction.

Documented cases of rescue

Documented cases of dolphins saving people do indeed exist, and some of them have gained widespread publicity.

Rescue of Elian Gonzalez (Cuba - USA, 1999)

Five-year-old Elian Gonzalez became known worldwide not only for the immigration scandal but also for the story of his rescue. The boy was floating from Cuba to the USA on a homemade raft made of buckets and pipes, which overturned. His mother and uncle died, and Elian was left in the open sea, clinging to a bucket. According to his own recollections, a pod of dolphins helped him stay afloat, pushing him. The fishermen who found him said that it was the dolphins that drew their attention to the boy in the open ocean, 60 miles from the shore.

Rescue of swimmers from a great white shark (New Zealand, 2004)

This is perhaps the most documented and often cited case. Four water safety instructors, including a 15-year-old daughter of one of them, were training at Ocean Beach. Suddenly, a pod of dolphins surrounded them and began to drive them into a tight group, describing tight circles around them. One of the swimmers, Rob Haws, tried to swim away, but a large dolphin turned him back. Only then did he see a 3-meter white shark heading straight for them. The dolphins held a protective circle around the people for 40 minutes until the shark lost interest and swam away.

Rescue of Martin Richardson after a shark attack (Egypt, 2023)

British tourist Martin Richardson was swimming in the Red Sea when a mako shark attacked him. She bit him five times, and he lost about 2.8 liters of blood. The man had already given up and was waiting for death when a pod of dolphins appeared, and the shark suddenly stopped attacking and disappeared. Richardson is convinced that it was the dolphins that saved his life, giving him time to wait for a boat. He was given over 300 stitches.

Rescue after a shipwreck (Mozambique, 1972)

Ivonne Vladislavich, a 23-year-old South African woman, swam 25 miles to the shore after her boat capsized. Sharks followed her. In a critical moment, two dolphins appeared nearby, which began to guard her from the sharks and helped her stay afloat when her strength was fading. They accompanied her to the buoy, where she was able to climb on and be saved.

Rescue of surfer Todd Endris (USA, California, 2007)

Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark, which tore the skin off his back and clung to his leg. A pod of dolphins-killer whales came to his aid, forming a protective circle around him, giving him a chance to reach the shore and receive medical attention.

Other mentions

Documentary and scientific sources also mention cases where dolphins helped people push rafts to the shore after plane crashes, as well as stories about how dolphins drove sharks away from people after a ship explosion in the Caribbean Sea.

Conclusion

Dolphins are amazing and complex creatures. Their rescue of humans is more of a byproduct of their instincts, maternal, playful, and protective instincts, which rarely coincide with our notions of help. It is not conscious kindness, but not a mere coincidence either. What unites documented cases is that dolphins act coordinately and deliberately, which does not seem like a mere coincidence. However, as scientists note, the motivation of dolphins remains a subject of discussion - they may protect their offspring or react to blood, rather than consciously save a person.

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