The most heroic dolphin in history, who saved hundreds of sailors (6 photos)

The true story of Pelorus Jack, who was idolized by sailors. There is not the slightest doubt about the enormous intelligence of this animal, and you will be convinced of this by reading this post!





A dolphin swam up to the glass at eye level in a giant aquarium. He looked at me the way people look into each other's eyes. At that moment I felt very sad for him. This is not an animal that should be in a cage. They are too receptive and curious for such restrictions.

Of course, it's not news that dolphins are smart. But how smart are they? Question. A recent study from Georgetown University found that dolphins have the longest memory of any non-human species, including elephants.

They use echolocation to recognize each other and can remember the "whistles" of other dolphins they met decades ago. And they live for more than 40 years!

Scientists even managed to find out that dolphins were smart and cunning tens of thousands of years ago. And the nature of these animals is very friendly, which in turn has led to many historical interactions with people.

But let's return to the story about one dolphin that deserves special attention. Without a doubt, it can be awarded the title of the most heroic marine mammal in the world!

Dangerous sea voyages in the 19th century



French Pass

In the past, many people found themselves on ships against their will. First of all, representatives of the lower strata of society became sailors. They took enormous risks when going on long journeys.

In those days, there were many more ways to die at sea: being thrown onto a deserted island and not being able to survive there, simply dying in a storm, falling into the clutches of pirates, etc.

One of the most dangerous places was the French Pass Strait. It is located near the Pelorus Sound Islands, New Zealand. After long months on the ocean, the sailors were happy to see land, but its beauty hid a mortal danger.





French Pass

For hundreds of years, this place was one of the most dangerous sea passages in the world. Fast currents and sharp rocks sank one ship after another, forcing many sailors to go to the kingdom of Poseidon.

This was a mandatory section for many routes, but also the most exciting. Until a strange dolphin appeared.

They called him Pelorus Jack. People began to talk about his heroism starting in 1905. One ship reported an animal that warned them of entering a dangerous passage by waving its flipper in a strange manner. They also heard him squeal, as if urging them to follow him. Surprisingly, the ship actually followed the dolphin and successfully passed through the dangerous area.



What is amazing about this story is that the dolphin perfectly understood the danger of the sea for people and ships. He realized that this was a deadly environment for humans. What's even stranger is why did he take on this mission to prevent disasters? One can only assume that the dolphin saw several shipwrecks in the area and the suffering they brought to people.

He helped hundreds of ships

Pelorus Jack sought to help large ships, as he was a fan of “surfing” on the waves from ships. This was very useful, because large ships are most exposed to danger in the French Pass Sound. After doing his "guide job," Pelorus Jack circled the entrance to the bay, hunting for fish and waiting for the next boat.

He may have been an orphan or an outcast, which partly explains his unusual behavior. He was the only Risso (gray dolphin) in the area.

People almost killed Pelorus Jack



Dolphin Risso

For many years the dolphin helped ships and became a local legend. The sailors simply called him Jack, and they even wrote several songs about him. Many sailors knew to follow a lone dolphin and almost without exception did so.

People often threw food to him as a sign of gratitude, and the dolphin accepted it with pleasure. It was a fair trade for a human life. Then, as usual, people almost put an end to this bright story.

One day there was a bad incident with a crew member on board the USS Penguin. Hoping to catch the dolphin, he grabbed a gun and fired, missing. While he was reloading his weapon, the captain's wife came running and stopped him.

A few months later, legislation was passed to protect Pelorus Jack. Despite the individual's aggression, Jack was not harmed. He returned to his usual occupation and continued helping the sailors. But there was one exception - the USS Penguin. The dolphin never swam to him again.

In 1909, the ship crashed on rocks in nearby Cook Strait. It was New Zealand's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century, killing 75 people.

Conclusion



Monument to Pelorus Jack

Historians believe that Jack saved hundreds, if not thousands, of sailors. He eventually became a huge star. Even the legendary Mark Twain came to see the animal in action.

Fortunately, it is believed that Jack was not killed by a crazy sailor or hunter. He finally disappeared in 1920. Most likely he died of natural causes.

We will probably never fully understand what motivated this sea animal. And in general, it is difficult to assess how smart dolphins are and what happens in their brains. But this story is very beautiful and definitely worth attention.