The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Dolphin Health Checks
The dolphin population in the waters surrounding the United States are at an all-time low, and there’s little hope that the trend will reverse anytime soon. While there are several reasons for the dwindling dolphin population, one of the biggest culprits lies in overfishing of their primary food source, a small, shrimp-like creature called krill. Without krill, dolphins have to seek out other food sources like fish and squid, which can be hard to find when there are so few krill to be found.
The good news
Though our oceans are sickeningly polluted with oil spills, plastic waste, and trash from decades of careless behavior, dolphins are still around to remind us that hope for our planet can exist. The good news is there's still a chance for recovery. Our only chance is to find ways to heal these beautiful mammals that symbolize happiness and prosperity in Asian cultures. And not just in Asia – also in Africa where many believe they have healing powers. To care for these wild creatures who've saved us so many times before we need to take action on behalf of them. The time is now to protect their future because if we don't act soon we'll lose them forever. It would be such a shame to see the end of such an incredible creature after all they've done for us. But it's up to us humans whether or not they survive. It's a hard pill to swallow but it must be said: We're killing the environment, and this means we're killing ourselves too. There are no more excuses left - clean up your messes, or else this will be our only world left. What needs to happen? Well, banning single-use plastics would be a great start. Plastic production is one of the worst culprits when it comes to ocean pollution. Every year at least 8 million metric tons enter the seas, outnumbering what fish do by 6:1! 80% of the marine litter in our oceans has come from land-based sources; meaning most pollution stems from inland locations like industrial sites and urban areas near rivers, rather than ports or beaches. Countries like Kenya banned plastic bags years ago with great success so there's no reason why other countries shouldn't follow suit. Then again, we could always just change our lifestyles altogether. Yes, it's possible. With things like veganism becoming popular for health reasons (and ethical reasons), people are slowly starting to realize how much of an impact their dietary choices make on the environment. From increased water consumption due to meat diets to deforestation caused by cattle farming and soybean production, people are finally getting the picture. Dolphins might not be alone in going extinct thanks to humanity's neglect. If you want these beautiful animals around then you should care about your own impact on them as well as theirs on you. You might say It doesn't affect me but we should all be ashamed at how much we've let things get out of hand while saying that very thing over and over again. We cannot be proud of our accomplishments and remain ignorant to the destruction we've caused. So it's up to us to fix this problem. For example, we can cut down on using plastics and we can increase recycling in order to clean up our coasts. And while we're at it, we should encourage businesses to adopt a more sustainable mindset and stop purchasing from companies that continue harming the environment. Or if you really love dolphins, then start volunteering for environmental groups that focus on protecting these wonderful animals. It's a rough situation but it's not impossible to solve - unless of course, the vast majority of us are fine with letting these intelligent creatures go extinct without giving them a second thought. Even if you think they're cool and you enjoy watching them in the wild, remember that they are still living creatures with a purpose. It's not okay to just dismiss them or ignore their plight. They've been helping us for centuries, maybe even millennia. The fact that they're still around should be enough to spark our human nature into action but unfortunately it's not. In this day and age we're so used to relying on technology for every little thing that we forget about our natural instincts. And it's these natural instincts which tell us to care for our environment. Animals such as whales and dolphins serve an important role in balancing out the world's ecosystem. There is no doubt that humans have messed up when it comes to maintaining balance but there is also no doubt that we can change. Humans have been destroying the planet since long before plastic was invented; before there were huge oil spills like what happened recently off of Brazil's coast; before there were dead zones where nothing lives; before New York City got flooded during Hurricane Sandy because climate change has raised sea levels (about 8 inches) than used to exist there. If people won't take responsibility themselves, we need to force them. We need government regulation to ban certain harmful chemicals found in everyday products. We need stricter regulations on big corporations who refuse to get onboard with green initiatives. We also need a shift in culture. Let's put our trust back into Mother Nature instead of man-made substances that will only cause harm over time. I don't know how much more evidence I need to provide that we are messing up this beautiful earth. I'm asking anyone reading this post right now: What do you want to leave behind? What legacy do you want to live on after your lifetime?
The bad news
Dolphins' skin is a more efficient filter than their lungs are. In other words, it takes a lot more dolphin skin cells to get the same pollutants out of their system as it does with dolphin lung cells. We know that air pollution has many negative effects on marine life, including dolphins; this study is an important reminder that we should try to reduce our harmful habits such as using aerosol sprays when possible. But how do you measure a body's pollution level? While previous studies have shown these problems through blood samples or scratches on dolphin skin, scientists at Imperial College London decided to take a different approach by looking at fat-specific chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) in blubber tissue taken from bottlenose dolphins in England's southwestern Channel Islands. They found that most of the CHCs were persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which means they're highly resistant to degradation and bioaccumulation, so just one small mistake can cause them to spread quickly. It turns out one new mother's diet during pregnancy—which consisted primarily of oily fish like mackerel—led her baby dolphin to be exposed to levels about five times higher than its weight in POPs. The good news: Dolphins living in areas with less human impact appear to have lower levels of POPs in their tissues. And thankfully, there are actions we can take to help protect these animals. For example, phasing out certain chemicals would help decrease the concentration of POPs over time. And while some people may not see much difference between spilling some oil into water versus leaving your car parked for 10 minutes without turning off the engine—both create similar emission rates—we've got to start somewhere if we want clean oceans for generations to come! So, what can you do? Take care of your pets responsibly by buying quality pet food and managing exposure to toxic chemicals. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With the right precautions, humans and wildlife alike will benefit. To make sure dolphins stay healthy, consider stopping any use of aerosols near bodies of water, advocating for strong chemical regulations and recycling products containing chlorine whenever possible. One thing everyone can do is stop the production and release of POPs by ending use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). And remember: any action counts! When we talk about a healthy future, we are talking about the preservation of life as we know it. You can support dolphins by picking up trash in your neighborhood, refusing to use the incorrect product, and voting for the next mayor who will do what's best for all creatures great and small. Let's work together to fight for change. What can you do? Take care of your pets responsibly by buying quality pet food and managing exposure to toxic chemicals. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With the right precautions, humans and wildlife alike will benefit. To make sure dolphins stay healthy, consider stopping any use of aerosols near bodies of water, advocating for strong chemical regulations and recycling products containing chlorine whenever possible. One thing everyone can do is stop the production and release of POPs by ending use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). And remember: any action counts! When we talk about a healthy future, we are talking about the preservation of life as we know it. You can support dolphins by picking up trash in your neighborhood, refusing to use the incorrect product, and voting for the next mayor who will do what's best for all creatures great and small. Let's work together to fight for change. What can you do? Take care of your pets responsibly by buying quality pet food and managing exposure to toxic chemicals. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With the right precautions, humans and wildlife alike will benefit. To make sure dolphins stay healthy, consider stopping any use of aerosols near bodies of water, advocating for strong chemical regulations and recycling products containing chlorine whenever possible. One thing everyone can do is stop the production and release of POPs by ending use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). And remember: any action counts! When we talk about a healthy future, we are talking about the preservation of life as we know it.
The ugly news
Dolphins are one of our planet's most beloved creatures. Whether they are holding up a goofy smile on your cereal box or swimming alongside a scuba diver in search of sunken treasure, dolphins have always captured our hearts with their curious nature and quick wit. Unfortunately, it appears that our love for dolphins may be slowly choking them to death. That is at least according to recent findings from the Smithsonian Institution. They took blood samples from 60 Pacific bottlenose dolphins caught off Hawaii's Kauai coast over three days in 2013, then again five years later in 2018. In 2013, 16 percent of the dolphins had detectable levels of mercury. Five years later? 47 percent. Levels went up about sixfold for all types of mercury during that time period: low levels went from 8 percent to 33 percent; moderate levels from 1 percent to 6 percent; and high levels remained unchanged at 3 percent. As they continue to build on this research, there is no doubt that humans need to do more work in protecting these animals - not just because we love them so much but because their very existence may be endangered by us. Actions you can take today
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