Richard OBarry - Behind the Dolphin Smile: One Mans Campaign to Protect the Worlds Dolphins

Praise for Behind the Dolphin Smile

The force in raising awareness of the plight of dolphins.

Huffington Post , whose readers voted Richard OBarry as the Ultimate Green Game Changer in 2010

The ultimate dolphin freedom fighter.

O Magazine , which included Richard OBarry on its 2010 O Power List

His story will have wide appeal.

Publishers Weekly

An engaging memoir...a refreshing down-to-earth look at men [and] dolphins.

Kirkus

This book succeeds in expressing OBarrys deep bond with dolphins and his commitment to their rights.

School Library Journal

Flippers ex-trainer wants his favorite mammals to swim with the fishes.

People

Well-written and involving, Behind the Dolphin Smile is recommended reading for anyone who has ever been fascinated by the sight of dolphins in the wild.

Sea

To call this book riveting would be an understatement; it is absolutely fascinating.

Australia Times

A fascinating glimpse behind the perpetually grinning mask of the dolphin from someone who probably knows as much about dolphin behavior as anyone.

Tampa Tribune

A love story between man and dolphin.

Miami News

BEHIND THE
DOLPHIN SMILE

BEHIND THE
DOLPHIN SMILE

ONE MANS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT
THE WORLDS DOLPHINS

Richard OBarry

with

Keith Coulbourn

Foreword by

Susan Casey

San Rafael, California

PO Box 3088

San Rafael, CA 94912

Copyright 2012, 2010, 1999, 1989, 1988 by Richard OBarry and Keith Coulbourn

Foreword 2012 by Susan Casey

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN: 978-1-60887-105-6

Originally published in the United States by Algonquin in 1989 and by Berkley in 1991. Published by Renaissance Books in 1999 and by St. Martins Press in 2000. Second edition published by Earth Island Institute in 2010, www.earthisland.org

The Dolphin Song, words and music by Fred Neil. Copyright 1965 by Coconut Grove Music. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Long Time Gone, words and music by David Crosby. Copyright 1969 by Guerilla Music, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Design by Tanya Maiboroda

Cover design by Dagmar Trojanek

REPLANTED PAPER

Insight Editions, in association with Roots of Peace, will plant two trees for each tree used in the manufacturing of this book. Roots of Peace is an internationally renowned humanitarian organization dedicated to eradicating land mines worldwide and converting war-torn lands into productive farms and wildlife habitats. Together, we will plant two million fruit and nut trees in Afghanistan and provide farmers there with the skills and support necessary for sustainable land use.

Manufactured in the United States by Insight Editions

10987654321

Dedicated to the following dolphins, both the living and the dead

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Abaco, Bea-Bea, Clown, DeeDee, Florida, Squirt, Kathy, Liberty, Mawana, Sharky, Soapy, Rainbow, Cha-Cha, Joe, Rosie, Mitzi, Opo, Pedro, Patty, Scottie, Susie, Samba, Kama, Arrow, Carolina Snowball, Sonny Boy, Charlie Brown, Ricou, Can-Can, Joker, Georgia, Sunset Sam, Aphrodite, A. J., Polly, Peter

PEOPLE S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Zhen-Zhen, Qi-Qi, Lian-Lian

AUSTRALIA

Sally, Cheeky, Rebel, Buttons, Salty, Zippy, Tuffy

U.S. NAVY

Nalu and at least forty-three of his mates who died in military service

AND TO

Hugo the Killer Whale

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I drove to Honolua Bay, a sublime crescent of sea at the southwest end of Maui. The sky was restless and gray and clouds hustled by, upstaging the sun. Though surfing had been my intention, the ocean had other ideas. The waves were messy and wind chopped; the water looked uninviting, a flat navy rather than its usual luminous aqua. But Honolua Bay is a magical place, worshipped by Hawaiians, and it wasnt possible to show up there and not get in the water. So I went for a swim.

Given the tourist-unfriendly conditions, few people were around that day. I swam across the bay and then past it, veering about 1,200 yards offshore, where I began to feel somewhat lonely. I lifted my head to check things out. Everything was oddly calm, and I wondered if I might see a shark. (This has happened on more than one occasion.) Treading water, I looked down at my feet, and then made a 360-degree scan for any company that might be lurking. All I could make out in the azure water was more water, and about 50 feet below, a sandy bottom. No fish.

And then, 20 yards off to my right, a large silvery-gray body exploded out of the water, spinning through the air like something out of an Olympic divers wildest dreams. The animal, about five feet long and sleek as a missile, landed with an exuberant splash. Seconds later, it jumped and spun again. A group of dark fins sliced through the waves, swimming toward me. Dolphins!

A whole pod of spinner dolphins surrounded me then; rather than darting away, they came closer, gliding by at the surface, diving beneath me, looping around in lazy, sweeping arcs, rolling onto their backs to get a better look. One of the bigger animals swam by slowly, making unmistakable eye contact. Its pure inquisitiveness was striking; the dolphin showed no skittishness or fear, despite the presence of several pint-size baby spinners in the group. When I think about the encounter now, thats what comes back to me most clearly: the dolphins great vibe, a mix of curiosity, peacefulness, and playfulness.

Few recognize this brand of dolphin magic more than Ric OBarry, whose life has been devoted to understanding these animals, and now to rescuing them. From his early years as Flippers trainer to his current role as a combination dolphin diplomat/advocate/commando, OBarry has been surrounded by bottlenose friends. The unlikely symmetry of a career spent, at first, inventing unique tricks to teach captive dolphins, and then utterly focused on freeing all captive dolphins, has given him a 360-degree perspective on these marine mammals and their world.

And what a unique place it is, the dolphin world. In Behind the Dolphin Smile, OBarry takes readers deep behind the scenes, far beyond the aquarium tanks. With unsparing honesty, he recounts his own painful experiences (to bring gifts to other dolphins. Games delight them. With surprisingly inventiveness, dolphins improvise. They love to make out. Their sonar is more highly evolved than that of a nuclear submarine. And they express themselves in an intricate, complex language we cant understand. Anyone who has spent time around dolphins comes away with the impression of a powerful, almost otherworldly intelligence. Theyre always trying to communicate with us, OBarry says. And thats hard to explain.

Being the worlds most intriguing animal, however, is a tough gig. Because were so enamored of dolphins, we want to play with them, hang around with them, cuddle themthe whole charismatic megafauna deal. We want dolphins to enlighten us, entertain us, and thrill our children (and, if possible, help heal their autism). And dolphins smarts have made them useful for our lower purposes, too. In the final pages of this book, OBarry examines the U.S. Navys practice of training dolphins for war.