Why do Dolphins save people? For example I've read in articles that dolphins have: 1 swam underneath people or other creatures to lift them up when they are drowning 2. form a pod ring around people when sharks are present to protect them, therefore risking their own lives 3. swim with the people keeping the pod formation to a safe place ie rocks back to sure 4. guide people to the shore I know of their extraordinary intelligence and fun loving nature. But do you think they 'care' about others when they help them? Do they relate to the fear a shark elicits and help? Would you go so far as to say they empathise? Dolphins are highly intelligent. Fun loving... Not so much. Dolphins are not all like flipper. Did you know that dolphins also practice rape? Yeah. Have you read or seen anything on the dolphins that help the people of small costal villages in south asia fish? Yeah they really do that. They will surround a big school of fish and drive them into the shallows where the humans catch the fish in their nets. If a dolphin is netted it don't struggle or panic because it knows the people will help it get out of the net. As a pay off for moving the fish to the people, they are rewarded with a share of the fish that is caught. The people and the dolphins have been doing this together since ancient times and the dolphins always come back the following year. Humans and animals working together. Pretty cool. Why dolphins behave the way that they do has been the subject of much scientific debate. What the real reason is, well, for now you will just to have to decide for yourself. Some science has speculated that dolphins became so smart as a function of evolution. They go on to add that perhaps they got so smart that they developed a very primal level of emotion. In other words, they help a drowning swimmer because they feel sorry for them. Other scientist think that dolphins are descendants of very early primates or man who lived near the oceans. They think, that they spent so much time around water that they began to develop traits and body characteristics that eventually led them to live in water full time....over the span of millions of years. These same people, at least some of them, think that a very close branch of ancient ancestor evolved into mermaids and mermen. Some even think that these so called merpeople still hide in our oceans today and that actual physical evidence exists to prove it. Some people also believe in santa clause and the easter bunny..... So what is the real answer... On this one you will have to make that call for yourself