Friday, 13 Mar 2009, 4:40 PM EDT
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) – Dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando have learned to blow beautiful, nearly perfect underwater circles of air, and experts think they do it just for fun.
Several months ago, SeaWorld curators noticed a dolphin at the park’s Dolphin Cove had learned to expel air from its blowhole and with a flick of its head, a circle of air — a silvery bubble ring — would be created. Curators then saw the dolphin using its nose to twist, spin and re-shape the ring, sometimes biting a bigger ring to make a smaller one.
Now, more dolphins at the SeaWorld habitat have learned to create the bubbles. Experts think the dolphins create the rings intentionally and just for fun. In fact, once a ring is created, SeaWorld staff has noticed that a dolphin often will bite it, rather than letting another dolphin play with it.
Park curators think the increased water pressure closer to the bottom of Dolphin Cove helps to keep the rings intact and spinning longer than those closer to the surface. Videos and pictures of SeaWorld’s artistic dolphins can be found at DolphinBubbles.com. Visitors also can post their own pictures and share dolphin experiences.
