Predators of Bottlenose Dolphins

Dolphins are apex predators, meaning that they are atforce upon their prey or hurl them bodily across the
the top of the food chain in our oceans and there arewater, as is often seen with seals.
not many animals that prey upon them. Still, you mayThe most significant losses to the dolphin population
ask yourself, what types of predators eat bottlenoseare not, however, caused by sharks and killer whales.
dolphins? Dolphins are agile, quick and have a brainIn Japan dolphin meat is considered a delicacy and
capacity 40% larger than humans, making themdolphins are rounded up, herded into bays and
intelligent and when necessary, dolphins can beslaughtered in numbers so vast that the sea turns red
aggressive.with blood. This method, called drive hunting, is also
Very few predators are brave enough to attack theused as far a-field as the Solomon Islands in the South
noble and beautiful dolphin. Most commonly you mayPacific sea, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and
find that sharks will kill and eat bottlenose dolphins, ifPeru in South America.
they are of the smaller variety. Larger dolphins areThousands of dolphins are slaughtered annually using
simply too powerful and can either out manoeuvrethis method and the meat is sold to consumers the
them or will return the aggressive behaviour, rammingworld over. Protesters the world over have spoken
them with their snouts.out against this unnecessarily barbaric method of
The other types of predators that will kill and eatslaughter, where the animals throats are cut. Thus far,
bottlenose dolphins are killer whales. Killer whales arethis inhuman fishing method remains in use today,
formidable predators who have great bulk andmaking man the biggest predator of bottlenose
strength behind their attacks. They are most noted fordolphins.
their technique where they slam down with great