Whale watchers were treated to an underwater spectacle when they saw a humpback whale zooming through the water after a pod of dolphins.
"Seven seconds of pure wild,” says marine biologist Caine Delacy, founder of Just the Wild, on Instagram. "Chasing dolphins and being able to keep up is no easy feat, yet we watched five whales doing just that for hours.”
In the footage, a humpback whale soars through the water, turning on a dime with surprising agility as it chases the dolphins.
In a recent study, researchers from Griffith University reviewed hundreds of photos and videos from members of the public and found that whales and dolphins may well play with each other.
"Behavioural studies of marine mammals such as these provide insight into their complex social structures, play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of marine ecosystems and the interactions among marine species,” says lead author Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University’s whales and climate programme lead in a statement.
Video and image credit: Caine Delacy, Just the Wild
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