April 14

National Dolphin Day

Make a splash this National Dolphin Day! Join us for an ocean-side celebration of these amazing creatures and learn more about their conservation.

Yearly Date

April 14

Observed in

United States

Introduction

Celebrate National Dolphin Day on April 14 with a heartfelt appreciation for these amazing creatures! It's an annual event to raise awareness about dolphin conservation, and the need to protect their habitats. Dolphins are intelligent, social animals that have been around since ancient times- they were even worshiped by some cultures as gods. They are playful and can often be seen playing in pods offshore or leaping out of the water in joyous leaps. Let's take this special day to honor our ocean friends!

National Dolphin Day Timeline

300 B.C.

Dolphins in Greek Culture

The Greeks considered dolphins sacred and often featured them in their mythology and art due to their intelligence and friendly nature.

1800s

Scientific Study of Dolphins

In the 19th century, scientists began researching and understanding the biology and behavior of dolphins, recognizing their high intelligence and complex social structures.

1961

"Flipper" Popularizes Dolphins

"Flipper", a popular American television show about a dolphin with near-human intelligence, helped raise awareness and appreciation for dolphins among the general public.

1970

Dolphin Conservation Efforts Begin

The first dolphin conservation efforts began, focused on protecting dolphins from pollution, hunting, and destruction of their habitats.

1992

Dolphin-Safe Tuna Labeling

The U.S. passes the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, requiring dolphin-safe labels on canned tuna products to reduce accidental killing in tuna fishing.

2003

National Dolphin Day Celebration

The first National Dolphin Day is celebrated on April 14 to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for these intelligent marine mammals.

How to Celebrate National Dolphin Day

1 Watch a dolphin show

Visit your local aquarium and take in a dolphin show. You'll be amazed at what these intelligent mammals can do.

2 Go on a dolphin tour

Many seaside towns offer boat tours so you can see dolphins up close and personal. Enjoy the peacefulness of being out on the open water.

3 Learn about dolphins

Dive into research about dolphins and their habitats, behaviors, and characteristics. There's so much to learn about these amazing creatures.

4 Support conservation efforts

Make a donation or volunteer your time to help conserve and protect dolphins and their habitats around the world.

5 Create dolphin art

Express your love for dolphins by creating something beautiful with paint, pencils, clay or photography.

Why We Love National Dolphin Day

Dolphins are intelligent & playful creatures

Dolphins are one of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have complex social behaviors and interactions, showing empathy and even grief towards one another. They also love to play, doing tricks like leaping in the air or 'surfing' on boats for fun!

Dolphins have unique calls & whistle languages

Dolphins are able to communicate through a wide range of vocalizations, including clicks, whistles, squeals, and squeaks. Researchers have found that these calls are used to express feelings and form relationships with other dolphins within their pod.

Dolphins help humans too!

Not only are dolphins amazing creatures to observe in nature, but they also provide us with valuable assistance. Dolphins in some parts of the world can be trained to herd fish into fishing nets which helps fisherman catch more fish with less effort - now how cool is that?