DOLPHINS

DOLPHINS.

The brand new giant, family movie DOLPHINS began a twice daily showing at the Rheged’ Giant Cinema Screen on Saturday July 17th, 2004, following a private launch the previous evening. This follows on from the widely acclaimed ‘The Living Sea’, which was the main feature film for the past year and from audience research DOLPHINS was chosen for the next 12 months.
By considerable contrast to our climate and waters just imagine floating in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas. Swimming alongside you are some of the most graceful and extraordinary creatures on earth - wild dolphins. Several dolphin species are featured in this film however the Bottle nosed dolphin, exactly the same as those, which frequent our waters, is the star. Apart from dedicated watchers only a handful of people will ever get the chance to encounter a dolphin in the wild, but experience DOLPHINS on the Rheged’s massive cinema screen as big as six double decker buses and you are transported to the very heart of their watery world.
Following on from the success of The Living Sea - DOLPHINS offers a unique insight into these fascinating creatures. Discover just how intelligent these animals are through the eyes of marine biologists who have spent years studying them. Learn about how they communicate, travel and bring up their young in the vast and sometimes dangerous waters of our planet. From the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the wind swept sea of Patagonia, DOLPHINS will take you beneath the waves for a close encounter with inquisitive Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, found only in the tropical to warm temperate Atlantic, acrobatic Dusky Dolphins, found in the coastal and shelf waters of South Africa, New Zealand southern Australia and southern South America plus our familiar and best known Bottle nosed Dolphin.

This is a family film in every sense with narration and music provided by two of the world’s keenest conservationists, actor, Pierce Brosnan and Grammy-award winning artists, Sting. DOLPHINS will inspire, fascinate and educate. You are not simply seeing a film you will become part of the whole experience.

Dolphin fast facts from the film.

In 500 BC the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about a musician named Arion who was saved from drowning by friendly dolphins.

Dolphins are found in every ocean on earth as well as estuaries and fresh water rivers.
Dolphins are marine mammals from the Family Delphinidae, which contains more than 30 species from the five-foot Hectors Dolphin, of New Zealand to the magnificent 30-foot Orca.
Dolphins use a distinct set of chirps, squeaks, whistles, squawks and clicks as well as nonverbal cues more akin to dance to communicate with one another.

Juvenile spotted dolphins are much more vocal than adults - just like humans.

Dolphins are the only ocean animals to use echolocation, a kind of sonar, to help them ‘see’ with sound.
Female dolphins talk three times more than males - just like humans!

Locally most people will know all about Rheged however for the benefit of those from distant parts, Rheged is an all-weather, all year round visitor attraction, which is open every day except Christmas Day. It is set in a former quarry and is Europe’s largest grass covered building located just 2 mins from the M6, junction 40 near Penrith.

Rheged was the name of the ancient Celtic Kingdom of Cumbria.

DOLPHINS will be screened twice a day now, until summer 2005, along with FORCES OF NATURE and two other supporting movies. FORCES OF NATURE is quite a contrast to DOLPHINS, taking you into the awesome spectacle of earthquakes, volcanoes and tornadoes face to face with our planet’s most destructive forces.
If the weather is too bad for fieldwork then a day at RHEGED is within travel distance from any point in our survey area including the Isle of Man

For further information telephone 01768 868000 or visit www.rheged.com