If you want to have a whale of a good time, and a real porpoise for reading today’s column, get ready to celebrate National Dolphin Day! Highly intelligent and social, dolphins are fascinating creatures. Did you know that an orca is not only the biggest member of the dolphin family but the fastest? In short bursts they can reach speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour — speed demons of the ocean! Researchers have determined that dolphins can learn, teach, cooperate and even grieve. With faces that look like they’re smiling all the time, and their playful behavior, it’s no wonder humans feel strong connections with these marine animals.
Let’s celebrate our dolphin friends with a marine-themed reading list. In many ways, I think dolphins are smarter than people, and we could certainly learn a thing or two from them. I’d attend dolphin school any day.
- “Becoming a Marine Biologist” by Virginia Morell.
If you or someone you know is interested in a career as a marine biologist, Virginia Morell’s book offers a look into the field through the work of Robin Baird, a biologist who has studied Hawaii’s whales and dolphins for two decades.
- “The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works” by Helen Czerski.
Check out this book for a fascinating dive into the ocean and its impact on the planet and humanity.
