Dolphin Intelligence
What their behaviour can teach us about responsible encounters
Published 28th August 2026
Dolphins are incredibly intelligent, social and curious creatures, with complex behaviours and individual personalities that make every encounter with them unique. But one of the most important things we can learn from understanding dolphins is that respecting their choice matters. Whether you’re watching them from a boat, the shoreline, or the water, a responsible wildlife encounter means giving dolphins the space to decide how they interact with us. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at just how smart dolphins are, what their behaviour can tell us, how we can interact with them responsibly, and the simple things we can all do to help keep these incredible wild animals safe.
How intelligent are dolphins?
Dolphins are widely recognised as highly intelligent animals, but their intelligence is much more complex than simply being able to learn tricks or catch fish. Their intelligence can be seen in the way they communicate, solve problems, learn from one another, remember individuals, navigate their environment and maintain relationships within their social groups. Much of what makes dolphins fascinating is that their intelligence is expressed in ways that have evolved specifically for life in the ocean.
A Remarkable Brain
Dolphins have highly developed brains with a number of features associated with complex cognition. Their brains are large relative to their body size, and their cerebral cortex (the outer layer involved in processing information) is extremely folded. They also have sophisticated areas of the brain involved in sensory processing, communication and social behaviour.
Their brains have evolved to process an enormous amount of information from their surroundings. Dolphins need to interpret sound, movement, depth, distance and the behaviour of other animals around them, often while travelling through a constantly changing environment. Their brains are particularly well adapted to processing sound waves, which is essential for both communication and echolocation.
Interestingly, dolphin intelligence shouldn’t be measured simply by comparing their brains with ours. Different species have evolved different forms of intelligence to solve the problems they encounter in their own environments. For dolphins, that means an extraordinary ability to understand and respond to an ever-changing underwater world.
Complex Social Lives
Dolphins are highly social animals, and their relationships can be remarkably complex. In the wild they form groups, but these groups aren’t always fixed. Individuals may join and leave different groups, associate with particular dolphins more frequently, and develop long-term relationships.
Their social lives require them to remember and recognise other individuals, understand social relationships and constantly respond to the behaviour of the dolphins around them. Mothers and calves also have an especially important relationship. Calves spend years learning the skills they need to survive, including how to find food, navigate their environment and interact appropriately with other dolphins.
In some dolphin populations, including ours, individuals can also form alliances and cooperate with one another. These relationships require an impressive level of social awareness and coordination.
A Language of Sound & Behaviour
Communication is another important part of dolphin intelligence. Dolphins produce a wide variety of sounds, including clicks, burst-pulsed sounds, and whistles, as well as communicating through body movements and physical interactions.
One of the most fascinating examples is the use of individual signature whistles. Young dolphins develop distinctive whistles that function somewhat like an individual acoustic identity, or their “name”. Other dolphins can learn and recognise these sounds, allowing individuals to identify and respond to one another.
Communication isn’t simply about making sounds. Dolphins are constantly interpreting information from the animals around them. A change in swimming direction, a particular whistle, a tail slap, or a change in behaviour can all provide information within a social group.
Learning From One Another
Dolphins are capable of learning throughout their lives, and not all learning has to come from direct experience. Young dolphins spend years observing and interacting with their mothers and other members of their community. This social learning is particularly important because survival isn’t just about knowing where to find food. Dolphins need to learn how to behave around other dolphins, how to navigate their environment and how to respond to potential threats.
Mandurah researchers have observed dolphins learning behaviours from one another, demonstrating that knowledge can spread through the population. This means dolphin communities can develop their own patterns of behaviour, with some behaviours being passed between generations.
An example of this if the ‘Tale Whack’ hunting technique that we see from Mandurah’s dolphins. They will whack fish with their tails, flinging them through the air, knocking them unconscious, and making it much easier to catch them. This technique was mastered by dolphin Nikki then passed on to her offspring and friends.
Memory That Lasts
Learning is closely connected to memory, and dolphins have demonstrated impressive abilities to remember information. Research has shown that dolphins can retain memories of other individuals and experiences for many years. This is particularly significant for a social animal. Remembering who another dolphin is, what previous interactions were like and how individuals within a social group behave can be incredibly valuable.
For dolphins living in long-term social communities, memory isn’t simply useful for finding food or avoiding danger, it can help them navigate the complicated relationships that make up their lives.
Every dolphin is an individual
Perhaps one of the most important things to understand about dolphin intelligence is that dolphins are individuals.
People who spend time observing wild dolphins often notice differences between individuals. Some may be particularly curious and confident around boats, while others may be more cautious. Some are highly social and frequently interact with other dolphins, while others may spend more time on their own. These differences are often described as individual personalities or behavioural tendencies. Just like humans, dolphins can have different temperaments, preferences and ways of responding to the world around them.
This is one reason individual identification is so important in dolphin research. Researchers can use natural markings and features, such as the shape and condition of a dolphin’s dorsal fin, to recognise individuals over time. Following individuals allows researchers to build a much deeper understanding of their lives, relationships, movements and behaviour.
how do we interact with dolphins responsibly?
When we encounter wild dolphins, our role is to observe, not interfere. That sounds simple, but responsible wildlife watching requires constant attention to what the animals are doing. Dolphins are wild animals, and even when they appear comfortable around a vessel, we never assume that their behaviour means they want us to come closer or interact with them.
Our crew watch the dolphins closely throughout an encounter, paying attention to their direction, swimming patterns, group behaviour and how they respond to the vessel. The aim isn’t simply to find dolphins and stay with them for as long as possible. It’s to give them the space to continue behaving naturally while we observe what they’re doing.
Dolphins Remember Us Too
One of the incredible advantages of a dolphin’s intelligence is its long-term memory. Dolphins don’t just recognise other dolphins, they can also recognise familiar vessels that regularly travel through their habitat.
Research has shown that dolphins can distinguish boats by the unique sounds of their engines, and they also use visual cues such as the shape and movement of a vessel’s hull. In the Peel-Harvey Estuary, our resident dolphins encounter the same boats throughout their lives, and over time they become familiar with vessels that move predictably and respectfully through their home, especially our tour vessels.
Some dolphins also appear to become familiar with individual crew members who spend years on these waters. That doesn’t mean dolphins are seeking out people or becoming “friends” with humans. Rather, it reflects just how observant they are. They recognise patterns, remember repeated experiences and learn which boats and people behave consistently around them.
This makes responsible behaviour even more important. Every encounter contributes to what dolphins learn about sharing their environment with people.
We Don’t Feed or Attract Dolphins
One of the most important rules when observing wild dolphins is never to feed them or deliberately encourage them towards a boat.
We don’t use food, sounds or other techniques to attract dolphins to our vessels. There is no need to create an interaction to have a meaningful wildlife encounter. When dolphins choose to travel through an area where we’re observing them, we let the encounter happen naturally.
Feeding wild dolphins can change their natural behaviour and potentially create risks for both dolphins and people. It can encourage dolphins to associate boats or people with food and may alter the way they search for and obtain food naturally.
For us, a successful encounter isn’t measured by how close a dolphin comes to the boat. It’s measured by being able to watch dolphins behaving naturally.
Knowledge Matters
Responsible dolphin watching depends on knowing what you’re looking at. Our crew have extensive knowledge of the Peel-Harvey Estuary and the dolphins that call it home. Many members of our team have backgrounds in marine biology, environmental science or other scientific fields, and many have spent much of their lives on and around these waterways.
That local knowledge helps our crew understand the environment and recognise that every encounter can be different. We aren’t just looking for a dorsal fin appearing on the surface, we’re observing behaviour, social interactions, group movements and changes in the animals around us.
Our connection with the local environment also extends beyond the time we spend onboard. Members of our team volunteer with Estuary Guardians and participate in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Dolphin Watch program, contributing to citizen science and helping monitor the health and behaviour of Mandurah’s dolphin population.
This ongoing involvement means our understanding isn’t limited to the tours we operate. It’s built through years of observation, research and caring for the estuary these dolphins call home.
We Let Their Behaviour Guide Us
Perhaps the most important part of responsible interaction is being prepared to change what we’re doing based on what the dolphins are telling us.
We don’t approach every encounter in exactly the same way. Dolphins may be travelling, feeding, socialising, resting or simply passing through an area. Their behaviour can change from one moment to the next, and our approach changes with it.
Our crew continually observe the dolphins and adjust the vessel’s position, speed and distance accordingly. If dolphins change direction or move away, we don’t pressure or pursue them. If they’re feeding or resting, we give them additional space. If their behaviour suggests they want distance, we respect that immediately, and if they decide to come to us on their own accord, then we keep motors in neutral and let them do their thing.
Rather than asking dolphins to adapt to us, we adapt to them.
Close Doesn’t Always Mean Better
There can be a temptation during a wildlife encounter to think that getting closer means getting a better experience. But with wild dolphins, the opposite can often be true.
Keeping an appropriate distance gives dolphins the freedom to decide what they want to do. It allows us to observe natural behaviours rather than encouraging the animals to change their behaviour, or leave completely, because of our presence.
Sometimes that might mean watching a group travelling in the distance. Other times, dolphins may naturally come closer to the vessel. When they do, we don’t try to turn that into something more, we simply let them make the choice.
The dolphin gets to decide the distance.
what can you do to keep dolphins safe?
Keeping dolphins safe isn’t just the responsibility of researchers, wildlife officers or tour operators, it’s something every boater, kayaker, paddle-boarder, fisher and beachgoer can help with. The Peel-Harvey Estuary is home to a resident community of wild dolphins that live here year-round, raising calves, feeding, resting and travelling through these waterways every day.
The choices we make around dolphins can have a lasting impact. The good news is that protecting them often comes down to a few simple actions and one important principle: let the dolphin choose.
Keep Your Distance
One of the easiest and most important ways to protect dolphins is to give them plenty of space. Dolphins need room to travel, feed, rest and care for their calves without feeling pressured by people or vessels.
In Western Australia, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has legal minimum approach distances to help protect dolphins from disturbance. Stay at least 100 metres away if you’re on a boat, kayak, paddle-board, jet ski or any other vessel. If you’re swimming or in the water, stay at least 50 metres away, and if you’re flying a drone, remain at least 60 metres away from dolphins.
But what happens if a dolphin approaches you?
This is where let the dolphin choose becomes especially important. If a dolphin voluntarily swims towards your vessel, don’t move towards it or try to maintain the distance by following it. Instead, stop your movement, if you’re operating a powered vessel, put the motors into neutral; if you’re kayaking or paddle-boarding, take your paddles out of the water. Remain still and allow the dolphin to move past and return to a safe distance on its own.
The dolphin has chosen to approach, but it should also be free to choose when and where it leaves. Once it has moved away, continue on your journey without following it.
If dolphins are already nearby, resist the urge to move closer for a better photo or video. A dolphin that changes direction, dives for longer periods or moves away may be telling you it wants more space.
Don’t Chase Dolphins
Dolphins are naturally curious, and sometimes they’ll swim alongside a boat or surface close by. But curiosity is not an invitation to follow them.
Chasing dolphins can interrupt feeding, resting and socialising, and it forces them to spend valuable energy avoiding people instead of going about their day. Never speed up to keep alongside dolphins, follow them when they change direction or try to predict where they’ll surface next.
If a dolphin chooses to approach your vessel, enjoy the moment without changing your course to continue the interaction. If it swims away, let it leave. A dolphin choosing to swim near you is very different from you choosing to pursue a dolphin.
Never Crowd or Surround Them
Dolphins need a clear path to move through their environment. One of the biggest mistakes people make is unintentionally surrounding dolphins with boats or approaching them from multiple directions.
Never position your vessel in front of dolphins, cut across their path or box them in. Always leave an open escape route so they can continue travelling wherever they choose. This is especially important when mothers are travelling with calves, as boats should never separate calves from their mothers or the rest of the pod.
Giving dolphins room to move is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress during an encounter.
Don’t Feed Wild Dolphins
Feeding dolphins might seem like a way to create a special moment, but it can have serious consequences for their health and behaviour.
Wild dolphins are skilled hunters that know how to find food throughout the Peel-Harvey Estuary. Feeding them can teach dolphins to associate boats and people with food, increasing the risk of boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and dangerous interactions with humans. It can also change natural feeding behaviours that calves learn from their mothers, and lessen their nutrients intake as a direct result.
We never feed dolphins or encourage them towards our vessels, and the same applies whether you’re on a cruise, fishing boat or paddle-board. The best experience is watching dolphins find their own food and behave as they naturally would.
Keep Dogs Away
Dogs and dolphins don’t mix well in the wild.
If you’re walking along the estuary or beaches with your dog, keep it well away from dolphins that are close to shore. Barking, chasing or entering the water can cause unnecessary stress, particularly for calves or dolphins that are resting near the shoreline.
If you ever come across a dolphin stranded or resting in shallow water, keep dogs away immediately and give the dolphin plenty of space while contacting the appropriate wildlife authorities.
Leave Nothing Behind
A healthy estuary means a healthier home for dolphins.
Litter, especially fishing line, hooks, plastic bags and other marine debris, is a major threat to wildlife. Dolphins can become entangled in discarded fishing line or mistake floating plastic for food, leading to serious injury or death.
Every piece of rubbish removed from the estuary helps protect the wildlife that lives there. Take your rubbish home, dispose of fishing line responsibly and help keep Mandurah’s waterways clean whenever you’re out enjoying them.
Follow WA’s Dolphin Protection Laws
Western Australia’s dolphin protection laws exist to keep dolphins wild and minimise disturbance from human activities. Under DBCA regulations, it is illegal to disturb, harass, chase, feed or interfere with dolphins, and significant penalties can apply for offences.
These laws apply to everyone on the water, not just commercial tourism operators. That includes recreational boaters, fishers, kayakers, paddle-boarders, swimmers and drone operators.
Responsible behaviour also means slowing down around dolphins, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction and allowing dolphins to continue travelling without interruption. The regulations are designed to protect natural behaviours like feeding, resting, nursing calves and socialising, behaviours that are essential for the long-term health of Mandurah’s resident dolphin population.
let the dolphin choose
If there’s one thing to remember from this blog, it’s this: let the dolphin choose.
Dolphins are intelligent animals making decisions every day about where they travel, when they feed, who they socialise with and how they respond to the world around them. Respecting that choice means resisting the urge to get closer, chase a better photo or create an interaction.
Sometimes a dolphin may swim near you. Sometimes it will keep its distance. Both are natural behaviours, and both deserve to be respected. If a dolphin approaches, stop moving and give it the freedom to decide how long the encounter lasts. If it moves away, that’s your cue to give it space.
The most memorable dolphin encounters happen when we become quiet observers rather than participants. By giving dolphins the freedom to choose, following WA’s dolphin protection laws, and respecting their home, we help ensure Mandurah’s resident dolphins remain wild, healthy and safe for generations to come.
