Last week, I received a private message from a FaunaScan community member, and I sat at my desk by the window, reading it with a heavy heart but also a little warmth. He’s been fighting lung cancer for eight months, and the long treatment has worn him out — he said he often lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling like he’s stuck in a dark tunnel, not knowing when he’ll see the light. Until one day, his family took him to the seaside for a walk, and he saw a group of dolphins jumping out of the water, one after another, their gray bodies shining in the sun, drawing beautiful arcs in the air. He said, "At that moment, I forgot the pain for a while. Those dolphins are so lively, as if they’re dancing for life. I couldn’t help but smile — maybe life is not as hopeless as I thought." His words touched me deeply. I’ve studied animal behavior for 10 years, and I’ve spent countless afternoons by the sea, observing these marine elves. Today, I want to share with you what I’ve learned — why dolphins jump out of the water, and those little wisdoms hidden in their leaping figures. I hope that when you’re tired from treatment, these lively dolphins can bring you a little warmth and courage to keep going.
I live in a small coastal town, just a five-minute walk from the beach. Every weekend, I’ll take my border collie Ollie and old cat Grace to the seaside — Ollie likes to run on the beach, chasing the waves, while Grace likes to curl up on the wooden viewing platform, dozing in the sun. I’ll sit beside them, holding my observation notebook and binoculars, watching the dolphins in the distance. Oh, and I always bring a cup of warm mint tea — that’s my little habit, especially in the cool seaside afternoons, a sip of warm tea can make me feel at peace.
Let me tell you, dolphins jumping out of the water is not just for fun — there are really many hidden reasons behind it. The most important one, I think, is communication. You know, dolphins are very social animals, and they have a super complex communication system. When they jump high into the air and then fall into the water heavily, the loud splash they make is like a "signal" — it can be heard by dolphins hundreds of meters away. Once, I saw a group of dolphins jumping continuously near the shore, and after a while, another group of dolphins swam over quickly. Later, I checked the observation data and realized that they were using this jumping action to call their companions to forage together. It’s so amazing, right? It’s like they have their own "language", and jumping is one of the ways to speak.
Oh, and there’s another reason I almost forgot — removing parasites. Dolphins’ skin is smooth and slippery, but it’s also easy to attach small parasites, which will make them itchy and uncomfortable. So they came up with a clever way: jump out of the water at high speed, and then hit the water surface heavily. The impact force of the water can shake off those annoying parasites, just like us taking a bath to clean our bodies. I once watched a young dolphin jump back and forth more than a dozen times in a row — at first I didn’t understand why, until I saw a few small parasites floating on the water surface. Hahaha, these little guys are really smart!
Of course, play is also an indispensable reason. Dolphins are like energetic children — they love to play. I often see them chasing each other in the sea, jumping alternately, and even doing somersaults in the air, as if they’re performing a show for the sea. Once, Ollie saw a dolphin jumping out of the water, and he barked happily, running back and forth on the beach, as if he was playing with the dolphin. It was such a lovely scene. This kind of play is not only for fun for dolphins, but also can exercise their physical strength and enhance the bond between companions.
I know, for you who are undergoing cancer treatment, every day is a tough battle. You may be troubled by hair loss, nausea and fatigue after chemotherapy, or you may feel helpless and hopeless about the future. But when you feel tired, you can try to watch a video of dolphins jumping, or if you have the chance, go to the seaside to see them in person. Watch them jump freely in the sea, watch them chase and play with each other, and you will find that life is full of vitality and hope.
I once had a patient friend who was so depressed after chemotherapy that he even had the idea of giving up. I told him to watch dolphin videos every day, and he did. A month later, he sent me a video — it was a dolphin jumping out of the water, and he was smiling beside the screen. He said, "Every time I watch them, I feel that life is worth cherishing. Those dolphins are so strong and lively, and I should be too. I want to keep fighting, just like them." That’s the magic of nature — it always uses the simplest and most lively little things to give us the most powerful strength.
I often say, "Love them, start with understanding their silence." These dolphins can’t speak, but their every leap is telling us the truth of life — enthusiasm, courage, and never giving up. They jump out of the water not only for survival, but also for the joy of life. Just like you, who are fighting cancer, every day of persistence is for the hope of recovery, and every little progress is a victory.
By the way, have you ever seen dolphins jump out of the water? Do you have any interesting feelings or discoveries? Leave a comment below and let’s chat — I read every comment personally, just like I do every day. Because I know, every word you type is not only a share, but also a kind of courage. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. You have your family, your friends, and these lovely marine elves. Even if today is just a little better than yesterday, that’s enough. And those dolphins jumping in the sea are also cheering for you, waiting for you to recover and watch their beautiful leaps together by the seaside.
