Create an enrichment toy for dolphins that meets the required criteria Standards National Science Education Standards Life Science Content Standards A, grades nine-12. National Science Education Standards Life Science Content Standards C, grades nine-12. National Science Education Standards Science and Technology Content Standards E, grades nine-12. Background information Dolphins in human care have a comfortable life, safe from predators, and removed from the pressures of seeking food. These animals have a lot of energy and enjoy a lot of physical and mental stimulation.
Dolphins are interested in all elements of their environment.
However, the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is a naturally cautious species and will, at first, avoid novel objects or places. They will often test new objects by looking at them, batting them, grabbing them, etc. These dolphins also need to become desensitized to new sounds and new places by having these novelties introduced in small increments. Dolphins like to energetically play with other dolphins, other sea animals, and with inanimate objects. Play is a very strong positive activity for dolphins, and their trainers constantly invent new games and new dolphin toys for enrichment opportunities.