Dancing dolphins is a rarity but a team of researchers of Ireland’s Northwest coast recently witnessed just that.
The Irish Basking Shark Project research team was recently joined along the Donegal coast by a pod of approximately 50 dolphins. Luckily the team was able to get some amazing footage of the dolphins dancing around the speedboat at Lough Swilly.
The dolphins danced and swam alongside the boat on Friday, before taking a right turn and swimming towards Malin Head. According to the video’s blurb on YouTube, “by evening they had traveled quite a distance, and were en route to Malin Head and onwards.”
A spokesperson from the Basking Shark project told IrishCentral that the crew, both locals involved in the marine rescue services, were out on the water to observe the basking sharks in the area.
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of some truly amazing aquatic wildlife it seems this area of Inishowen, County Donegal, is the place to go. The spokesperson told IrishCentral, “This year we have had orca, killer whales, dolphin, sunfish, seals and harbor porpoise, as well as porbeagle shark.”
However, dolphins travelling in such large numbers in the area are unusual. The spokesman said, “The large number together is unusual. We have had dolphins in small groups, but not normally this large.
“Earlier this year we had a pod of Orca, Killer whales pass by (see video here), as well as basking sharks. This was one of the first confirmed reportings of Orca in Irish waters, captured in detail and providing unquestionable proof.”
For more information on the Basking Shark Project visit their website.
Here’s the footage of the dolphins from “Deep Six” on YouTube:
7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mtheresa | Aug 21, 2012, 11:33 PM EDT
that was not a pod of 50 dolphins. There are only about 4 being chased by dumb-dumbs!! Come to La Jolla(pronounced la hoya)California to see how dolphins play and "dance" undisturbed in their natural habitat. Not a very good article and video silly and badly presented. The only thing those guys were trying to accomplish was to check the speed of the dolphins...grow up!
seanomelb | Aug 21, 2012, 05:09 PM EDT
I apologise to Iron mountain I forgot to hand out tutus to the dolphins, You need to take a happy pill.
Dmoore3 | Aug 21, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT
Amazing you were able to keep up with the dolphins! And so close! If you are interested, I have video of dolphins "dancing" off the California coast. Wonderful creatures they are! Dmoore3
Searlit | Aug 21, 2012, 12:04 PM EDT
I think it's beautiful, too. A gorgeous sunset, happy dolphins and the coast of Ireland. Does it get much better than that? Some people around here need to relax-x-x......
KittyMurphy | Aug 21, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT
Man alive! It's hater trolling central here. Angry much?!! I think the footage is beautiful as for "dancing" what did you expect a bear on a unicycle?!!
IronMountainMovies | Aug 21, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT
Hi Cathy. Presumably you didn't bother to look at the video you reported on, otherwise you would have seen that the Dolphins did not dance nor indeed was any of the behaviour displayed in the video unusual or unique. Dancing Dolphins my ass. Still if writing bullshit to draw readers in is your game, give Rupert Murdoch a call. He'd love you! You could dance to his unsavoury tune.
whiteycat | Aug 21, 2012, 09:34 AM EDT
Not very good filming. The stills are better.