Scientists strapped GoPro cameras on the back of mine-hunting bottlenose dolphins - capturing awesome POV footage as they hunt snakes and fish.
The American researchers captured for the first ever time how captive dolphins, trained to identify mines by the U.S. Navy, communicated while hunting in the depths of the ocean.
In six months, the team collected a series of never-before-seen videos showing how the creatures search, stalk, and catch their prey.
Footage shows the Navy dolphin nicknamed S plunging to the depths as it pursued a fish in San Diego Bay, California. The dolphins are even seen giving 'side eye' looks.
The researchers wrote in their study: ‘To observe dolphins catching live fish, we used cameras attached to the animal's harness.
‘Dolphin S was recorded during 15 periods of about 50 minutes each. An observation period began when the dolphin fitted with a harness and camera was called from its netted enclosure to follow its trainer's boat out to the bay.'
The boat would then stop to allow the dolphin to roam around and forage so the researchers could film what it would do.
The study added that it could be the first time audio and video have been used to record the behaviours of the marine mammals.
The authors wrote: ‘Sounds and head jerks of toothed whales in the wild and in the laboratory setting have been recorded as they captured live prey.
‘Sounds and video have also been recorded from dolphins finding and consuming dead fish
‘However, sound and video together have never been used to observe the behaviour of dolphins and of the live fish they capture and consume.'
‘This would give a better understanding of feeding and nutrition in threatened populations.'
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