Famed for their intelligence, dolphins have developed an array of incredible hunting techniques. Whether using tools such as sponges and shells to access prey, or rounding up fish by creating mud nets or forcing them to form bait balls, they cooperate and share knowledge in unprecedented ways.<\/p>\n
But in South Carolina, USA, bottlenose dolphins have developed an extraordinary hunting technique. To gulp down larger quantities of fish, younger dolphins were seen beaching themselves on the mudbanks.<\/p>\n
This is only possible during a three-hour window (around low tide) each day while the oyster-covered banks are exposed. The dolphins will only be successful if they choose shoreline where the angle is just right \u2013 not too level and not too steep.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeaching here could be lethal,\u201d explains David Attenborough in footage filmed for the BBC TV series\u00a0The Hunt<\/em>, which documented this behaviour.<\/p>\n Working as a group, the dolphins drive fish towards the shore, creating a bow wave to push them up the mudbanks.<\/p>\n But each time they do this, the risk to the dolphins increases.<\/p>\n