We don’t always get to see them. Last time we were in the next village and we didn’t, but the time before that we actually encountered them whilst kayaking out on the sea near Karlobag in Croatia. These are Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursops truncatus), and sadly there are only about 220 left in Croatian waters. Seeing them is an amazing experience, much akin to seeing wolves. There is something extremely spiritual about dolphins, and they are a big reminder that mammals also live in the sea.
Bottlenose dolphins grow to about 4 metres (13 feet) in length and can weigh around 300 kilos (660 pounds). When you see these guys up close and personal it’s a shock as to just how large they really are – they’re over twice the length of a tall human. Dolphins are without question an extremely intelligent animal (the 3rd highest, apparently, with us being 1st), and they have an extremely complex social system and language. It makes me vomit when I see them slaughtered en masse by our friends in the East. Trust me, it’s something you can’t unwatch.
Croatia is a stunning country, a part of the Yugoslavia. For us it’s a long drive to get there (13 hours each way this time) but it’s well worth it for the scenery.
I would love to get a tattoo featuring a wolf and a dolphin, as both are very special animals for me. They show that living wild can also be fun…
Filmed with a Panasonic Lumix FZ300/FZ330 with a Polaroid UV lens
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Carpathian Adventure 