Keep the seas clean for dolphins to swim and jump It isn’t that well known that Scotland is the home of 24 species of marine mammals, and that included in this number are the most northerly bottlenose dolphins in the world. Using distinctive marks and scars, the scientists at The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust have counted around 50 of this kind of dolphin living off the West Coast, out of a UK total of about 300. Dolphins live fairly near land, and so things that people do affect their daily life. When humans drop litter or chemicals into the sea, the water becomes less safe for the dolphins that live in it. As well as the direct health problems caused by swimming in dirty water, their food can become poisoned. Fish and other marine animals may even die, and less of this abundance means there will be less for the dolphins to eat. Dolphins also eat squid and because they look similar, sometimes even eat plastic bags by mistake. Preventing this pollution is a vital part of ensuring their safety and conservation.  Support Delightful Dolphins             Give a one-off charitable gift   Your donation HWDT conduct research on wild dolphins and whales, as well as the state of the seas they live in – vital for effective preservation. They educate and campaign for protection across the country.

Did you know? Dolphins can jump up to 5 metres out of the water! A group of dolphins is called a pod. Dolphins are mammals, just like giraffes and rabbits and bears and humans. Dolphins see underwater by making clicking sounds and listening to the echoes - like bats!

The Hebredean Whale and Dolphin Trust is a Scottish Registered Charity (no. SCO22403). Photos by Anne Hughes, L. Drysdale and M. Brook.