Dolphins are marine mammals that have a very close relationship to their counterparts who are the whales and the porpoises. Scientific research has proven that there are approximately forty species of dolphins in only seventeen genera.hey are one of the largest mammals weighing approximately ten tones and their height raging up to 4 feet long .Dolphins mostly inhabit the shallower seas of the continental shelves majorly inhabiting salt waters however, some inhabit fresh waters like the Amazon dolphins. Generally, dolphins feed on fish and squids. Amazingly, according to (Eric 2013), dolphins are still undergoing evolution. Cetacean order of the mammalian species is among the recent evolution discovery noted by marine scientists.
According to a (Mark 2011), Dolphins have been interacting with human beings since time in memorial; however, the future of this relationship has been marred by human activities, which have destroyed Dolphins habitats. According to (Storelli 2000), there has been a lot of water pollution informs of heavy metals, Methyl mercury and organochlorine compounds that have affected the dolphins. Other threatening factors include pesticides, poor fishing methods that kill dolphins unintentionally and noise. A study by Gordon provided quantitative data on the oceanic distribution of dolphins in the Faroe-Shetland Channel demonstrating clear and predictable influences of environmental determinants on the distributions of dolphins in the region.
Despite all this menace, people have embraced various strategies to try to save the long-term human friend. Various organizations have come up like the Mote Marine Laboratory, which rescue and rehabilitate orphaned wounded and sick dolphins. Others like Whale and dolphin conservation society work on majorly dolphin conservation and welfare. Amazingly, some countries like India have declared dolphin as a national aquatic animal in an effort to save the mammal. In most countries in the world, local government to hinder poaching of dolphins has established dolphin marine parks and sanctuaries.
In conclusion, dolphins are good natural indicators of environmental health hence a crucial player in the marine ecosystem. With the increasing environmental pollution, their existence is highly compromised ant their life span hugely affected.
References
M. M. Storelli, M. M. Storelli,. "Bulle in of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology." Springerlink (2000): 3333-349.
Perrin, W F, Bernd G. Würsig, and J G. M. Thewissen. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. London: Academic, 2009. Print.
