THE BOTTLENOSE PORPOISE IN CAPTIVITY 



as to their needs, have ceased to be concerned about their 

 safety, regarding them as almost domesticated animals. 



The naturally sociable and gregarious habits of porpoises 

 is evidently not lessened by captivity. Sometimes they seize 

 each other by the back just behind the dorsal fin, but there 

 are no tooth marks on any of them and it is probably done 

 in play. The indications are that they are altogether ami- 

 able and inoffensive toward each other. The only species 

 of porpoise destructive to its kind is the well-known "Killer" 

 (Orca gladiator). 



Our porpoises were observed mating in January, and 

 again in March and April. It is possible that they will breed 

 in captivity if their lives are not shortened by indoor life. 1 



Our porpoises were heavy feeders, the five consuming 

 about ninety pounds of fresh fish a day. This quantity of 

 food has kept them in good condition, apparently without 

 loss of weight. For several days after their arrival they 

 would eat nothing, but at the end of a week they began to 

 take live fishes and, after having once started to feed, it 

 was not difficult to get them to take dead fish. A few 

 days of hunger brought them around, as it does in the case 

 of the newly captured seal or sea lion. Their principal food 

 is herring and tomcod purchased in the markets. The live 

 crabs thrown to them at various times were quickly seized 

 and much tossed about, but were not eaten. 



The keeping of porpoises in captivity has presented some 

 difficulties with the water supply, their excrement constantly 

 discoloring the water. The pool cannot be drained empty 

 and cleaned, like those used for seals, as stranded, and con- 

 sequently frightened, porpoises beat the ground with their 

 tails so violently that they would be injured by the daily 

 emptying of the pool. The water is now being kept fairly 

 clear by carrying extra pipe lines to the pool and greatly 

 increasing the flow of water. The pool is supplied with 



1 Unfortunately all the female porpoises died at the time Dr. 

 Townsend's paper was passing through the press. R. C. A. 



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