It might sound like a fun holiday activity, but going swimming with dolphins could be seriously harming the animals.
A new study has revealed that dolphins that spend too much time around humans have trouble mating.
Researchers from Murdoch University examined the impact of human interaction with Hawaiian spinner dolphins.
In their study, published in Royal Society Open Science , the researchers, led by Dr Julian Tyne, wrote: “Throughout the day, spinner dolphins are repeatedly approached by kayakers, swimmers and vessels inside and outside their preferred resting habitats.”
Worryingly, the researchers found that dolphins spend up to 82% of their time with humans – often when they’d usually be mating.
Speaking to news.com.au , Dr Tyne said: “Spinner dolphins in Hawaii exist in small, genetically isolated populations with restricted ranges and have evolved a constrained behavioural pattern.
“They cooperatively forage offshore at night and return to sheltered bays to socialise and rest during the day.”
In the hopes of avoiding humans, some dolphins steer clear of their preferred habitats, which affects both their eating and mating habits.
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Dr Tyne added: “Dolphins need time to recover from a disturbance to return to a pre-disturbed activity state.
“Repeated exposure to human activities has also resulted in long-term habitat abandonment, which has led to longer-term strategies such as the avoidance of important habitats and subsequently biologically negative impacts on populations.”
The researchers hope the findings will encourage authorities to limit tourist activities that can negatively impact dolphins.
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