Can real dolphins hit sharks like Flipper did in the film? I know the movie is meant to be slightly realistic, but still...
shareYes it has been known to happen. If you google "sharks attacking dolphins" you'll get some interesting results.
shareyes they can, when they are in their pods.
shareYep, a dolphins have been known to successfully fend off shark attacks. Weirder animal fact? A walrus is capable of fighting off a polar bear I know they have their tusks but I can't imagine how they angle them to defend against polar bear claws...
shareYeah, but they usually get their asses handed to them.
shareYep, in fact, it's the only way they can defend themselves against sharks.
See, in the wild, dolphin pods always run a risk when one or more females is giving birth, because the process always involves shedding some blood when the baby emerges. This is guaranteed to draw at least one shark, so the other dolphins form a ring around the mother and keep watch for any sharks. Should any come near, they swim like missiles and bash the thing in the sides with their hard beaks. This can cause some serious damage to the shark's internal organs, often causing the bastard to either die or swim off while he's still alive.
There's a reason dolphins live in pods; safety in numbers.