Why are mighty sharks afraid of those adorable dolphins?  

We’ve all seen it in movies: Sharks prey on humans and other marine animals alike! This is why they are known as the ocean’s top predators. Despite their immense strength, these mighty sharks prefer to avoid dolphins. Wondering why? Well, the reasons are manifold. Behind their adorable, jovial exteriors, dolphins harbour a super aggressive side, which is visible only when they are threatened or cornered. Here are more reasons why sharks choose to stay away from dolphins.   

Dolphins have an upper hand! 
Yes, that’s true. Dolphins have a structural superiority over sharks. The former has a flexible skeleton and soft tissues. These allow them to manoeuvre quickly and easily in water, as opposed to sharks, who have a strong cartilaginous structure. Wait, there is more! The vertical plane of a shark’s tail limits its upward and downward movements. In contrast, the horizontal plane of the dolphin’s tail gives it great mobility in all directions. Another thing that sets dolphins apart is their snout. They are made of strong and thick bones, which they use to attack sharks. Dolphins position themselves several feet below the shark and burst upwards, jabbing in their soft underbelly. This can cause severe internal injuries to those immensely strong marine creatures. Now you know why sharks don’t mess with the cute dolphins!  

Dolphins travel in herds 
Sharks are solitary predators. However, dolphins travel in herds. This gives them an edge over sharks. Whenever a group member is in danger, the rest of the dolphins in the group rush to defend their buddy. Talk about having social support! And this is similarly true for baby dolphins! When a shark attacks any baby dolphin in the group, the rest of the herd attacks the attacker to protect the baby. Travelling in herds can be truly lifesaving, especially for baby dolphins!  

Orca dolphins hunt the white sharks when food is scarce 
They are the largest among all the dolphin families. A male orca typically weighs around 3500 to 4200 kgs, but can weigh up to about 10,000 kgs and be as big as 10-metres long! They are found in every ocean on Earth. In addition to being the largest dolphins, they are also known to hunt down the white sharks. However, they do this only when food is scarce. And what aids them in this hunt is their immensely strong tail! They can use their tail fins to flip sharks on their back, rendering them helpless! And viola! A buffet is ready for the entire orca family! Apart from sharks, orcas also feed on seals, sea lions and large whales! The orcas are truly mighty eaters!