Lockdown rules have, in some ways, been the break that our natural environment desperately needed. Pollution levels have fallen dramatically, animals are enjoying their newfound freedom to explore, and there has even been talk of reversing climate change.

But what’s not so great about the sudden drop in the number of people who are venturing outside is that some animals had grown too dependant on us for food. From wild deer at national parks that have been forced to temporarily shut, to the birds that usually peck at half-eaten pastries in town centers, some of the world’s wild animals just don’t know what to do with themselves now that humans aren’t providing them with food.

Luckily, there are establishments that exist with the sole purpose of helping animals throughout the year, no matter what. One of these businesses is Barnacles Cafe & Dolphin Feeding in Tin Can Bay, Australia. According to ABC News Australia, the center currently has about 7 dolphins in its care.

Normally, the cafe attracts some 200 tourists a day during peak tourism periods. The dolphin is one of the most loved mammals of them all, and tourists enjoy visiting the cafe to get up close and personal with the incredible species.

Unfortunately, when the whole world went into lockdown, Barnacles Cafe was forced to close. For a while, it was only the dolphins and the Barnacles staff on site. But Australia’s COVID-19 risk was relatively low, and the cafe was able to reopen again on May 16 when the country’s restrictions eased.

According to staff, when the cafe reopened, a 29-year-old dolphin called Mystique started to present some new behavior.

Mystique has for many years enjoyed the care of the Barnacles Cafe team. He arrived in Tin Can Bay in 1991, and was immediately distinctive from his peers. Lyn McPherson, one of the volunteers at the center, said:

“He stands out because he gets raked up fighting with other males. He also had a bull shark attack in 2007 and is missing a bit of his tail, and a bit of his dorsal fin.”

But since tourists have returned to Barnacles Cafe, Mystique has started to present “giving behavior” to the guests.

The sweet little guy has been bringing gifts to the center every day. These tend to be objects that have taken Mystique’s interest, which he thinks the volunteers and tourists at the center will appreciate.

Mystique’s behaviour wasn’t prompted by anything other than his own desire to share his gifts. According to McPherson:

“What we have to do is give him a fish in return. We haven’t trained him, but he has trained us to do this.”

Some of the items Mystique has bought back so far include pieces of wood, bottles, and shells. He brings up to 10 items per day to the Cafe, probably because he now knows he’ll be rewarded with up to 10 fish!

Mystique is the only dolphin at the center that has picked up this habit. Another male sometimes joins him in his collection trips, but usually Mystique goes it alone.

He carries the items on his nose, and if he drops them too far out for the staff to pick up, he’ll go back for them and carry them closer.

We’ll probably never know where Mystique finds all of his gifts from, but McPherson is convinced the cheeky dolphin has a collection somewhere that he’s waiting to bring to the center.

What an adorable way for this dolphin to show his appreciation for the humans that feed him!

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Source: ABC News Australia, Diply, Barnacles Cafe & Dolphin Feeding