The Bond between Humans and Dolphins (Literature & Language Essay)

The Bond between Humans and Dolphins
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Introduction
It is undeniable that humans have long felt a strong attraction towards dolphins. Humans, being social beings have an urge to socialize, not only with other humans but also with animals (Grandgeorge and Hausberger 2011, 399). Such human-animal socialization is more pronounced in the attempt by humans to socialize with dolphins. Humans have interacted with dolphins since time immemorial. Indeed, an analysis of dolphins has been critical in understanding the origins of human beings in the animal kingdom. Significant similarities exist between dolphins and humans that are not even found between humans and apes. For instance, the idea that dolphins need to get air from the surface of the water makes them similar to humans. Due to the curiosity of people to unearth such similarities, the bond between dolphins and humans have grown with time. In the past, human interaction with these sea mammals was limited to hunting. As individuals learned of their intelligence and capability to interact, the bond grew stronger. However, an increase in instances where dolphins have injured individuals has led to questions regarding whether such a bond exists (Christiansen 2016, 2). Similarly, instances where dolphins are injured, for instance by boat propellers have risen concerns about the encounter of dolphins with humans. This begs the question, does a genuine bond exist between humans and dolphins?
Some dolphins prefer to live closer to humans and forsake the habitats to enhance interactions with humans. Fungie (also known as Dingle Dolphin) is an example of a bottleneck dolphin that has become separated from other world dolphins and now stays in close contact with humans. First seen in 1983, Fungie has remained in close contact with humans for 37 years. He is known to interact playfully with swimmers and divers with no recorded cases of being aggressive towards them (Gregg 2020). Without a bond with humans, Fungie would have instances where he has harmed humans. On the other hand, the individuals Fungie has interacted with have not harmed him. Divers and swimmers enjoy being close to him. While it is normal for social animals like dolphins to stay in close contact with one another, it is rare for them to seek out contact with people (Gregg 2020). Fungie is a demonstration that it is not only humans who want to have contact with dolphins. In the same way, dolphins want proximity with humans and hence make an initiative to actualize it. Given that Fungie has been consistent in his contact with humans, this implies that he has a genuine bond with them. His interaction with human beings shows how dolphins and humans can interact harmoniously.
Humans visit zoos to enhance their bond with dolphins. Modern zoos are critical in fostering the care and welfare of the animals they exhibit and educating the public on the importance of conservation efforts. Further, zoos have been known for being a form of entertainment and a major destination for visitors especially during their leisure time (Godinez, Andrea, and Eduardo, 2019). As urbanization increases, more individuals want to create time for leisure. This has seen an increase in the number of...