Dolphins join fight against Somali pirates

This thousand-strong pod of dolphins thwarted an attack on a fleet of Chinese merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden

Dolphins join fight against Somali pirates

This thousand-strong pod of dolphins thwarted an attack on a fleet of Chinese merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden

The attack on a convoy of Chinese merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden was thwarted by a 1,000-strong pod of dolphins.

International Radio China reported on Monday that more than 1,000 dolphins had encircled Chinese ships as pirate vessels approached, creating a live barrier that forced the pirates to stop and turn back.

In a delightfully whimsical account, the Xinhua news agency reported the fleet had just come across the pirate ships when "thousands of dolphins suddenly leaped out of the water"

"The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness before the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while."

Though the Chinese ships had a Chinese navy fleet escorting them through the dangerous Gulf of Aden, the dolphins were clearly what foiled the attack.

Better than navy
Military protection has proven to be futile against the pirates.
According to media reports, about 20 per cent of all ships that pass through the Gulf of Aden are attacked by pirates. Piracy off the shores of Somalia has increased significantly since the 1990s, as shipping companies began to pay ransoms and negotiate safe-passage.

Not as lucky
Meanwhile, on Tuesday night US ship M V Liberty Sun managed to avoid being hijacked as it came under fire from another band of pirates.
The raid was a direct challenge to US President Barack Obama's vow to halt banditry in the waterways off the coast of Africa.
The ship, which was carrying food aid, managed to escape despite being damaged. None of the crew were injured.
The attack on the ship comes after pirates vowed to avenge the deaths of those killed by US special forces in the rescue of an American cargo ship captain seized last week.

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