Costa Rica Wildlife – 5 Truths of the Pacific Spotted Dolphin

One of the most intelligent mammals of the water is on constant Welcome Committee Watch when you arrive to the southern coastal areas of Costa Rica – Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park and the nearby beaches.

Even though they are plentiful of these amazing animals in this part of the world they are still in danger of becoming extinct every day of their lives.

5 truths about the Pacific Spotted Dolphin

1. Dolphins are social and super playful creatures sometimes gathering in groups of 1,000 or more, especially in offshore populations. Although, groups of a few hundred are more norm.

2. Dolphins can easily swim up to 30 km/h and may speed next to boats, performing acrobatic leaps.

3. Females will have one calf every 2 to 3 years, after an 11½ -month gestation period. And the baby then nurses for 18 months.

4. The normal life expectancy of this animal is up to 45 years, but thousands are killed every year in nets of men fishing for yellow fin tuna. The spotted dolphin’s diet is similar to tuna (ex: squid), and that’s why dolphins are often with them. As a matter of fact, fishermen purposefully follow dolphins to the tuna,subsequently pulling them in with the catch.

5. In Japan 2,000 spotted dolphins are still intentionally killed every year for food.