Dolphins are some of the friendliest, most playful, and intelligent creatures in the ocean.
As such, it is easy for trainers and those who interact with them regularly to develop an emotional attachment with them, and vice versa.
But can such a bond develop into zoophilia, a sexual interest in animals? Can humans have sex with dolphins when a deep bond develops?
Humans can perform sexual acts with dolphins; however, despite both being mammals, intercourse between humans and dolphins is highly unlikely due to the dolphins’ anatomy.
Let’s explore this topic further.
Dolphin Anatomy
According to The Wild Dolphin Project, there are about forty species of dolphin, not including the seven porpoise species, and each species has unique male and female genitalia.
Dolphin genitals are located inside genital slits on their belly, or ventral side.
Females have three slits, one that contains the vagina and anus, and one mammary slit on either side.
Male dolphins have two slits, one covering the penis and one just behind it for the anus.
Despite their complex anatomy, can humans have sex with dolphins? Let’s take a look at how complex dolphin genitalia truly is.
Females
Dolphin vaginas have a special combination of flaps, folds, spirals, and twists, depending on the species.
For example, bottlenose females have “a complex spiral-shaped vagina.” Female harbor porpoises, on the other hand, “have up to thirteen different folds.”
It is believed that female dolphins have evolved such complex genitalia to prevent pregnancy by unwanted suitors. They can reposition themselves during intercourse, steering the dolphin’s penis and sperm toward one of her flaps, away from her egg.
The theory is that the more forceful a species is known to be in mating, the more complex the female anatomy.
Males
Male dolphins “can extend, swivel and grasp onto their partner to stay connected during the act.” This is known as a prehensile penis.
Dolphin penises can be arm-sized to table-sized, depending on the species.
According to Diane Kelly, a research assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, dolphins “have what’s called a ‘fibroelastic’ penis,” which means that the tissue contains “a lot of collagen, and it makes the penis, even when flaccid, very stiff and less extensible.”
Sexual Claims
Despite the complexity of male and female dolphin anatomy, some claim they have had sexual encounters with dolphins.
The Man Seduced By a Dolphin
Malcolm Brenner, a Punta Garda, Florida man, claims he had sex with Dolly the dolphin in 1971 because she ‘seduced’ him.
Brenner claims Dolly “announced her intentions to him by positioning herself so he was rubbing against her.”
While he claims he was not interested at first, he gave in to her charms and says that “there’s something quite transcendental about making love with a dolphin as she was very special.”
Their relationship ended when the Sarasota, Florida, park closed, and she was moved away.
“The Girl Who Talked to Dophins”
Margaret Howe Lovatt went to work for John Lilly as part of a NASA-funded research project in the 1960s.
In an effort to teach Peter the dolphin English, Lovatt began living with him at a state-of-the-art facility called the Dolphin House.
When Peter’s sexual urges began to get in the way of their daily lessons, Lovatt decided it would be easier to relieve his urges manually.
About the act, Lovatt has said, “I wasn’t uncomfortable with it, as long as it wasn’t rough. It would just become part of what was going on, like an itch – just get rid of it, scratch it and move on.”
Conclusion
It is highly unlikely that humans can have sex with dolphins. However, there are sexual acts that can be performed by humans on dolphins, especially male dolphins.