Not AI! Hawaiian Dolphin Leaps 15 Feet High

A dolphin's incredible leap has netizens comparing it to the basketball legend Michael Jordan! According to PEOPLE magazine, a spinner dolphin nicknamed 'Air Dolphin' was recently spotted in Maui, Hawaii, making a powerful jump on March 4th, estimated to be as high as 15 feet (about 4.5 meters) above the water. The spectacular moment was captured by researchers from the Pacific Whale Foundation and quickly went viral after being shared on Instagram. However, the astonishing height led many netizens to question the photo's authenticity. The foundation quickly stepped in to clarify, emphasizing, "This is absolutely not an AI-generated image!" They further explained that spinner dolphins typically measure 6 to 7 feet long and weigh around 250 pounds. If you convert this to human proportions, this jump is equivalent to a human leaping over an entire basketball hoop, making the comparison to Jordan understandable. According to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, spinner dolphins have slender snouts and develop spots as they age, with dark, cape-like markings on their backs. They are known for their lively and highly social nature, often traveling in pods with rough-toothed dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, and other spinner dolphins. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, including the waters around Taiwan. This 'Air Dolphin' proved with its elegant yet powerful leap that nature is the ultimate sports arena. Its charming appearance also highlighted the importance of marine conservation to more people. It really looks like an AI picture, but it's real 😮