The first aspect I would like to talk about is the most obvious when people think of dolphins; dolphins in captivity for entertainment.
People always picture dolphins doing tricks and dancing around in shows made exclusively for human entertainment. You will find such dolphins in marine mammal parks, dolphinariums, zoos, aquariums, etc.
Here's a link to a great SeaWorld dolphin show if you would like to watch!
The dolphins, coming from a salt water life, are typically captured from their homes in the wild, and then brought to their new homes in chlorinated pools.
Dolphins are quite adaptable to this new life because they like performing, food rewards, people, and they respond well to being trained. Their high level of response to training is directly correlated to their high levels of intelligence.
Another area in which society would come into contact with dolphins is in the military. Yes, how cool right? The military actually takes dolphins, trains them in various beneficial ways, and uses them as part of their elite team when fighting wars or during training exercises.
These mammals were used by the military because the military needed more efficient and accurate ways of searching for and detecting objects underwater, such as mines and submarines.
The military also used them to research their abilities to swim incredibly fast and dive so deep in hopes of generating combat machines, like submarines, speed boats and torpedo's, with these capabilities as well.
These dolphins are also used to deliver equipment to divers under water to pick up equipment that a diver may have left under water, and to detect enemy swimmers and tag them with a marker before warning the troops that an enemy was in range.
^^^Military Dolphins^^^
Dolphins used in research are probably the least thought of social perception of human and dolphin interactions, but it is actually very common.
Researchers study dolphin echolocation mechanisms, imitation ability, cognitive ability, reproduction, object permanence, number concepts, the social development in calves, echocardiography of pregnant dolphins, and much more!
A lot of researchers simply just study dolphin life, how they become a pod, how they obtain resources, how they communicate, whether their populations are thriving or decreasing, etc.
A few other sources of dolphin and human contact is through dolphin swim facilities where people may go to learn about dolphins or just to swim with them. Some have swimming courses where you can bring your children, and some have therapy sessions swimming with dolphins!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWyoIkRA6I
A lot of researchers simply just study dolphin life, how they become a pod, how they obtain resources, how they communicate, whether their populations are thriving or decreasing, etc.
A few other sources of dolphin and human contact is through dolphin swim facilities where people may go to learn about dolphins or just to swim with them. Some have swimming courses where you can bring your children, and some have therapy sessions swimming with dolphins!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWyoIkRA6I
The last area of social encounters between humans and dolphins that I will mention is through media.
Plenty of dolphins have participated in movies like Flipper, A Dolphin's Tale and technically Free Willy, where they play characters in the movie. Dolphins have been showcased in movies made about dolphins , such as The Cove, and they have also appeared in a television series that involves dolphins.
Resources:
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