Hawaii's spinner dolphins are producing far fewer calves than expected, and scientists point to chronic tourist disturbance during their daily resting hours

Jul 11, 2026 - 00:04
Hawaii's spinner dolphins are producing far fewer calves than expected, and scientists point to chronic tourist disturbance during their daily resting hours
Spinner dolphins are among Hawaii’s best-known marine animals that attract thousands of visitors every year who gather to watch them leap, spin, and socialise in the island’s sheltered coastal bays. However, scientists have now cautioned that this tourism built around them might be placing them under chronic stress.