Dogs may be man’s best friend, but a person can form a strong bond with any animal under the right circumstances. The squirrels on my college campus would hang out as long as they were fed, and I’ve heard plenty of stories of years-long friendships between people and wild animals. Whether or not food is involved, these relationships are as sweet and genuine as can be.
Expedition photographer Timo Heinz witnessed a heartwarming moment between a man and a dolphin in Galicia, on the coast of Spain, on April 25, and now his viewers can’t stop talking about it. It’s rare enough to see a dolphin so close to shore, but this sweet reunion between the sea creature and his old friend is simply breathtaking.
This is priceless! Once I got over my secondhand nervousness that the man would fall in the water, I could see just how comfortable everyone was with this sweet interaction. Even the fluffy black dog (perhaps a Portuguese Water Dog?) was unfazed by the dolphin’s outgoing personality!
“Dolphins are actually friendly and like dogs,” one animal-loving commenter wrote. “I swim with them and feed them where I live in the Gulf. They are very gentle.”
Related: Video of Massive Dolphin Pod Leading Tour Boat Has People in Awe
How magical! For many of us, spotting a dolphin isn’t an everyday occurrence, but for those who live by the ocean, they can become a regular sight. Even so, people like this commenter and the kindhearted man in the video don’t take these creatures for granted.
Who is Manoliño?
It didn’t take long before Spanish locals saw this video and gave a bit more context to the interaction. This dolphin is actually well-known in the city of Galicia, and he’s been a regular visitor for many years.
Related: Curious Pod of Dolphins Greet NASA Astronauts Off Florida Coast After 9-Month Stay in Space
“He got separated from his pod at an early age,” one commenter explained, “so now he seeks interaction with humans. Unfortunately, he clashes with the interests of shellfish divers, who ask for his relocation, and he’s getting increasingly more used to human interactions.”
As sweet as it is to see Manoliño interacting with kind people, it’s worrisome to hear that he’s been on his own for so long. I hope his human friends can find a solution that keeps him safe and healthy for many years to come!
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