Dolphin Address 16
September 5, 2004
A new verb has entered the dolphin community: 'to duck'. Dusty does it and it means that she pushes someone under water with her beak. Off recent a plasticized notice at Pollenawatch warns swimmers not to enter the water with toys. Dusty seems to rigorously rob cameras, budgyboards and other loosely attached paraphernalia. It is said that she 'ducks' people that do not let go of their toy fast enough.
The question rises why she would do this. For Verena and me this is an unknown experience. She has indeed recently nicked a waterwing, but almost immediately yielded it again (
DEA 7 2004).
One might explain this as 'prey behavior', 'Mare Librum' in the most liberal sense. But they are of no use to her, so it would be senseless greed. It seems to me that this is rather understating her intelligence. Dusty is an innocent soul with a powerful involvement. She approaches swimmers with personal attention and meekness.
Maybe she doesn't like very much to be photographed because it disturbs the spiritual contact that she seeks. Each object that is placed between her and the swimmer somehow distracts communication. I can see an insult in that because it turns her from a sentient being into an object. A celebrity waylaid by paparazzi.
We have been swimming some three times with the camera. This is integrated in a waterwing and therefore fits into our swimming behavior. On the
last videos is clear to see that this has not disturbed her ways. Maybe a text should be added to the warning shield that you'd better use your eyes than your camera for only then you miss nothing.
Jan Ploeg, Fanore Meadow, September 5th 2004
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