Â鶹Éç

In order to see this content you need to have both enabled and installed. Visit for full instructions

Dolphin

Dolphins are members of the cetacean family, which also includes whales and porpoises.

Most dolphins are social animals, living in groups, also known as pods, of several hundred. They hunt in a variety of ways, sometimes in teams, feeding on squid, shrimp, eels and a wide variety of fish.

Dolphins use a series of high-pitched clicks to build up a 'sound picture' of their surroundings by listening to the echoes bouncing off objects

There are at least three populations of bottlenose dolphins known to live in mainland UK waters - in the Moray Firth, Scotland, Cardigan Bay, Wales as well as off the coasts of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

One of the greatest threats to dolphins is being caught in fishing nets. Hundreds of thousands are killed every year as they follow their staple food supply of fish. They become entangled in nets and drown when they can't reach the surface to breathe.

After a gestation period of a year, dolphins give birth to a single calf that is almost half the length of its mother. It is able to swim immediately and is fully weaned at 18 months.


Bookmark this page:

Try one of the walks from Derek's latest walking series on Â鶹Éç One Wales.

Wildlife

Toads by Brian Stone

In your garden

Find out about the wildlife you can find on your doorstep.

A fin whale

Wildlife photos

A gallery featuring rare and unusual wildlife sightings in Wales.

Wildlife map of Wales

Â鶹Éç Wales Nature map

Explore Wales

Zoom in and discover wildlife in your area with our interactive map.

Â鶹Éç iD

Â鶹Éç navigation

Â鶹Éç © 2014 The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.