Dolphins have learned to steal bait from crab fishermen (5 photos + 1 video)
Bottlenose dolphins in Coombana Bay, Western Australia, have learned to open crab pots and remove bait from hooks. A camera from the Dolphin Discovery Center captured the animal's cunning behavior for the first time. 
Bottlenose dolphins watch as crabbers prepare a trap and throw it into the ocean off Coombana Bay, Western Australia. Then the animals easily remove the bait from the hooks.
To scare away thieves, fishermen tried to put bait under the traps, but the dolphins quickly learned to knock them over. 
Wildlife specialist Rodney Peterson first noticed the behavior two years ago and was concerned that the dolphins might become entangled in the nets.
He turned to the Dolphin Discovery Center in Banbury for help, which installed five cameras underwater. 
“Dolphins are very intelligent observers and are constantly looking for food. And they do not miss the opportunity to eat, especially females with calves,” said director Axel Grossmann, who helps the center.
“The bottlenose dolphin grabs the bait, which sits on a hook or a metal pin inside the trap. They began to overturn the crab traps using the rostrum (jaw) and body to make it easier to get to the bait. Some dolphins even learned to open plastic containers with their teeth,” Axel explained.
Because experts were concerned that the animals could become entangled or injured, they developed a new, safer solution.
“We and a few fishermen developed a mesh bait bag with a metal hook,” says Grossmann. “The dolphins realized there was no access to the bait and swam away. This means we get healthier dolphins and happier crabbers.”
Bottlenose dolphins steal fish not only because they are hungry.
"We think it's a combination of interest, an easy way to get food, learned adaptive behavior and maybe even fun," Grossmann said.
