Dear colleagues, Apologies for cross posting! The following paper has recently been published: Eisfeld, S.M., Simmonds, M.P., Stansfield, L.R. (2010). Behavior of a solitary sociable female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off the coast of Kent, SE England. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 13: 31 - 45. Abstract This article provides a report of the behavior of a solitary sociable dolphin studied on the southeast coast of England in 2007. This is the first study of its kind in which behavior of such a nonhuman animal was systematically studied. By the time of this study, this young female was highly interactive with people in the water. People accompanied the dolphin for 18.4% of the 100 hr of observation, and their presence changed her behavior. The study recorded 39 different behaviors; feeding and resting behaviors declined in frequency in the presence of people. In addition, the dolphin exhibited behavior possibly hazardous to people in the water, which included preventing swimmers from leaving the water. The dolphin received several wounds, at least one of which was life-threatening. This article discusses the welfare implications for such animals. You can download the paper at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10888700903369263 Any questions, please contact me at sonja.eisfeld@wdcs.org Kind regards, Sonja Eisfeld Conservation Officer WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Brookfield House 38 St Paul Street Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1LJ sonja.eisfeld@wdcs.org <mailto:sonja.eisfeld@wdcs.org> T: 01249 449 516 F: 01249 449 501 http://www.wdcs.org <http://www.wdcs.org> **** Since commercial whaling was 'banned' more than 30,000 whales have been killed. Help us Stop Whaling. www.whales.org <http://www.whales.org> Please consider the environment before printing this email. **** WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment. This e-mail's contents are confidential to the intended recipient(s) at the e-mail address to which it has been sent. It may not be disclosed, copied to, circulated or used by anyone other than the intended addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this transmission in error please telephone the originator immediately or ring +44 (0)1249 449500. Any opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WDCS. Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society ("WDCS"): Registered in England and Wales No. 2737421 WDCS, Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN!5 1LJ. Registered Charity No. 1014705. Tel: 01249 449500 Fax: 01249449501 WDCS Shop is a trading name of WDCS (Trading) Limited (Registered in England No. 2593116) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (Charity No. 1014705) and gift aids all post tax profits to the charity. WDCS Wildlife Centre: Spey Bay, Moray, IV32 7PJ. Tel: 01343 820339 Fax: 01343 829065 WDCS Australasia: WDCS, PO Box 720, Port Adelaide Business Centre, South Australia, Australia 5015. Tel: 1300 360 442 Fax: 08 8242 1595 WDCS Deutschland: WDCS, Altostraße 43, D-81245, München. Tel: 089 6100 2393 Fax: 089 6100 2394 WDCS (North America): 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 Tel: 1.888.MYWHALE (1.888.699.4253) WDCS (South America): Potosi 2087, B1636BUA, Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel-Fax +54 11 47963191