A shoal of fish can be surrounded by two or more dolphins, which herd them into a small area allowing the other members of the pod to take turns to feed on their share of the fish. This is known as cooperative feeding . Another example of cooperation between members of the pod when feeding is that dolphins are able to drive fish towards a sand or mud bank, and by sliding onto the bank they wash up the fish and are able to feed in this fashion. Another benefit of group living is the care giving and social bonding that occurs within the pod. Some examples of this are the bond between mother and calf, the assistance of other female dolphins during births, and group members supporting a sick or injured pod member at the surface to prevent drowning.
Body contact is also quite important in the strengthening of bonds between individuals.
Dolphins commonly caress and nudge each other and swim having bodily contact with another individual. Dolphins are also quite sensual with each other and sexual behavior, not related to mating or courtship, may occur on a daily basis. Group existence is beneficial for sensory integration and defence . Sensory integration is important as it is the way in which each individual within the pod contributes sensory information, providing the group as a whole with information from the entire area covered by the pod. For instance, if a group of several hundred dolphins are dispersed over a wide area, and one or more animals comes across a shoal of fish or a predator, this information can be passed on to every member of the pod.