Some bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia, have developed a unique hunting technique: using marine sponges as protective gear. These resourceful creatures are observed placing sponges over their snouts to shield themselves even as foraging for fish on the seafloor, a behavior scientists are calling “sponging.” This practice, observed in only a small percentage of the dolphin population, offers new insights into animal tool use and cultural learning.
The discovery, initially documented in 2021 and further researched in 2025, highlights the adaptability of these marine mammals and their ability to innovate solutions to environmental challenges. Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark and the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project at Georgetown University have been studying this behavior, aiming to understand the benefits and costs associated with using sponges during hunts. The practice is particularly fascinating since it demonstrates a learned behavior passed down through generations, showcasing a form of dolphin culture.
The sponges, varying in size from softballs to cantaloupes, serve as a buffer against the rough terrain of the ocean floor. Dolphins use their snouts to stir up sand and uncover hidden fish, but this process can expose their sensitive skin to sharp rocks and potentially stinging animals. By “wearing” a sponge, they protect themselves from injury. This behavior isn’t widespread; currently, only around 5% of the Shark Bay dolphin population, approximately 30 individuals, exhibit sponging, according to Ellen Jacobs, a researcher involved in the study as reported by the BBC.
However, the use of a sponge isn’t without its drawbacks. The sponge alters the way sound travels during echolocation, a crucial hunting method for dolphins. As explained in research published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, the sponge tissue scatters and distorts the returning echoes, making it more difficult for the dolphins to accurately locate prey. Despite this challenge, the dolphins appear to adapt and compensate for the altered sensory input.
How Dolphins Adapt to Sponging
The process of learning to hunt with a sponge is believed to be a cultural transmission, passed down from mother to offspring. Researchers have observed that young dolphins learn the technique by watching their mothers select and position the sponges. This suggests that sponging isn’t an instinctive behavior but rather a learned skill that contributes to the unique cultural identity of this dolphin population. The technique offers insight into how animals adapt to their environment and how culture can shape behavior in the wild.
The Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project has been tracking these dolphins since 1984, providing a long-term dataset for studying this behavior. The project utilizes photo-identification techniques to monitor individual dolphins and their foraging strategies. Images captured by the project, such as those featured in AP News, clearly show dolphins foraging with sponges affixed to their snouts.
The Benefits of Tool Use
The use of tools by animals is a fascinating area of study, providing insights into their cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. Sponging demonstrates that dolphins are capable of not only recognizing a problem – the risk of injury while foraging – but also of devising a creative solution. This behavior is comparable to humans using gloves to protect their hands, offering a similar level of protection while allowing them to perform a specific task.
Recent footage, captured in January 2026, further illustrates the intricacies of this hunting method. Researchers, led by Ellen Rose Jacobs, have been analyzing how the sponge alters the dolphins’ sensory perception during hunts as reported by Earth.com. The findings suggest that while the sponge introduces challenges to echolocation, the dolphins’ brains are able to adapt and compensate, allowing them to continue effectively hunting for fish.
The continued study of these “sponging” dolphins in Shark Bay promises to reveal further details about animal intelligence, cultural transmission, and the complex relationship between animals and their environment. Researchers will continue to monitor the population and analyze the long-term effects of this unique hunting technique.
What does the future hold for these innovative dolphins? Ongoing research will be crucial to understanding how this behavior evolves and whether it spreads to other dolphin populations. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and help us spread awareness about these remarkable creatures!
