What Eats Dolphins?

Some species of dolphins are classified as endangered which may lead people to wonder exactly what predators are the threats to dolphins? This is also an interesting question because dolphins are, themselves, predators. They eat 25 to 40 pounds of food a day, usually smaller varieties of fish and other small sea creatures that happen to be available, such as squid or octopus. Most people will recognize a bottlenose dolphin, since this species tends to be featured in television and movies, such as the 1964 television show and 1996 movie Flipper, more than other dolphin species. However, another species of dolphin that many people know but will not recognize as a dolphin is the killer whale, also known as an orca. Given the size of these sea creatures, it’s impossible to think that they might be dinner for another species.

Sitting at the top of the food chain, a dolphin, also known as a cetacean, has little to fear from most marine species. However, the three types of species that are dangerous and will eat dolphins are sharks, killer whales, and humans.

Sharks

The shark remains the dolphin’s sworn enemy and natural predator. Larger sharks, such as the great white shark, will prey on dolphins, especially young dolphins, known as calves. Dolphins also need to fear tiger, bull and dusky sharks. These three species of sharks are larger and more aggressive than some of their cousins. But dolphins do not sit idly by and wait for sharks to attack them. Dolphins will attack sharks as well. While they don’t eat the sharks, the dolphin will try to injure or kill the shark by ramming it in the gills with it’s long nose.

Killer Whales

Shamu from Sea World and Keiko from the movie Free Willy are two of the most famous killer whales. As media sensations, many people do not associate these whales with their cannibalistic nature. Killer whales eat a variety of fish and animals including dolphin, octopus, seal, walrus, otter and penguins. They will even eat birds and polar bears swimming in or near the water. It is not surprising, therefore, that they will also eat smaller dolphins and calves.

Humans

By far, the most devastating predator to the dolphin population is mankind. Humans consume dolphin meat throughout the world, though the Japanese seem to be the primary consumers. Large schools of dolphin can be herded close to shore and then slaughtered for human consumption. Dolphins are also used as a source for leather, animal feed, fertilizer and oil.

Unfortunately for those who like to eat dolphin, the meat can often be contaminated or contain very high levels of mercury. The pollution in the waters that surround Japan, China and the United States cause the fish caught there to have high levels of the poison in them. Ingesting the metals through the fish can be hazardous to the health of many humans, particularly pregnant women.

Humans kill dolphins unintentionally as well.  Many dolphins get caught in commercial fishing nets intent on capturing other large scale fish for consumption, such as tuna. 

Conservation Efforts

Because dolphins are considered an intelligent species, many groups across the globe have called for a ban on killing and eating dolphins. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society has made the safety of whales, dolphins and porpoises their primary purpose. They want to stop the intentional or unintentional fishing and capture of these creatures. The organization attempts to protect the habitats necessary for these animals to survive. Finally, with offices and supporters all over the world, they try to connect and create the support world wide. This is just one of many organizations dedicated to the conservation and protection of endangered sea creatures.

Because dolphins perform for humans in marine shows and have been used by the military to find underwater bombs, it is not often that we think about dolphin predators. However, some species of dolphins hover close to extinction because of their greatest threat, humans. Between overfishing and contaminated habitats, the future of dolphins is uncertain. Fortunately, conservation groups worldwide work to solve the problem.