How often do packs of dolphins kill sharks, and if so, how do they accomplish this?
The idea that dolphins will seek out sharks for undersea battle is largely incorrect. It is the unfortunate perception stemming from the 60’s “Flipper” generation, when scientists like John Lily were respected for preaching about the psychic abilities of dolphins and their ‘cosmic connection’ to humans. What we know now as the result of legitimate research is exactly the opposite – dolphins will AVOID natural predators whenever possible. Sharks can often swim two to three times faster than dolphins and have a much more ferocious disposition. Fortunately, in many cases, dolphins are able to elude attack by detecting them with the use of biological sonar (i.e. echolocation). In addition to sonar, dolphins rely on each other for defense. They travel in numbers for protection (females with offspring, adult males, and sub-adult males each comprising their own social groups). Those who fall prey to attack are usually either alone, ill, injured, very young or very old. Healthy, alert, social
