watercolor with a nostalgic, scientific feel.
We love spinner dolphins and are always excited to see them! Four subspecies of spinner dolphins are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters in large groups of a few dozen to more than a thousand. All are famous for their acrobatic leaps and spins. They can leap nearly 10 feet high and can make 2-5 spins in one leap before landing on their side. Scientists think they spin for a number of reasons including: removal of parasites, social communication and play, courtship, and may be used as a warm up for nighttime hunting after resting during the day. Here in Hawaii, spinners (Stenella longirostris) forage nocturnally in deep water offshore in smaller groups for fish and squid. During the day they return to shallow bays to rest and socialize. Dolphins (and all marine mammals) are protected from harassment by federal law; under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Sadly the eastern spinner dolphin is ranked as VULNERABLE on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species having been reduced to half its original population by the tuna fishing industry. Since they often swim above schools of yellowfin tuna, fishermen look for dolphins and encircle them with their large purse seine nets capturing both the tuna and the dolphins. In Hawaii, local dolphin tours are very popular with tourists but are controversial since they may prevent the dolphins from getting the rest they need during the day.