Dolphins, Chefs of the Sea. But will they get a nasty letter from PETA?
Dolphins prepare food like chefs before eating
A wild female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was observed going through a series of complicated steps to prepare cuttlefish for eating in the Spencer Gulf, in South Australia… they repeatedly observed a female dolphin herding cuttlefish out of algal weed and onto a clear, sandy patch of seafloor.
The dolphin, then pinned the cuttlefish with its snout while standing on its head, before killing it instantly with a rapid downward thrust and “loud click” audible to divers as the hard cuttlebone broke.
The dolphin then lifted the body up and beat it with her nose to drain the toxic black ink that cuttlefish squirt into the water to defend themselves when attacked.
Next the prey was taken back to the seafloor, where the dolphin scraped it along the sand to strip out the cuttlebone, making the cuttlefish soft for eating.
“It’s a sign of how well their brains are developed. It’s a pretty clever way to get pure calamari without all the horrible bits,”
And our Blue Heeler has discovered that putting a paw on the plate will hold it still while she licks it clean!
“It’s a trap!”
–Admiral Ackbar, confronted by a pod of dolphins
The dolphin sea kitty knew she was being watched. When they’re not being watched, they’ll use a filleting knife.