This was the last semblance of normalcy in this narrative…
Lovatt was driven to teach Peter to communicate and knew he and the other dolphins could imitate human speech.
To enhance Peter’s mimicking abilities, similar to how parents teach their children, she decided to reside in the Dolphinarium.
However, the experiment was complicated by Peter’s ‘sexual urges’ as he matured. Consequently, this meant that Lovatt had to limit her time with him so he could… socialize with the females.
Frustrated by these interruptions, Lovatt opted to assist Peter… physically, if you catch my drift.
In recounting this unusual development, she explained: “Peter enjoyed being around me.
“He would press against my knee, my foot, or my hand. Initially, I would share him with the girls.”
Reflecting on how she… assisted him, she continued: “I felt comfortable with it, so long as it wasn’t aggressive. It became just part of the routine—like an itch you scratch and move on. That’s how it felt. It was observable; it wasn’t private.
“It wasn’t sexual on my part. Maybe sensuous. I believed it strengthened our bond—not because of the physical interaction, but due to eliminating interruptions. And that’s truly what it was. I was there to connect with Peter. That was part of him.”
Peter and Lovatt grew… mighty close (Getty Stock Image)
Hustler later capitalized on the intimate dynamics between them, sensationalizing the situation.
Understandably, the magazine’s coverage overshadowed the experiment and tarnished the research’s reputation.
This ultimately led to the de-funding of Lilly’s Dolphinarium, as bad press and lack of successful communication results took their toll.
Lovatt defended her connection with Peter and sought to clarify her research to distance herself from controversy, as shown in the BBC documentary, The Girl Who Talked to Dolphins.
Featured Image Credit: (Getty Images) /Youtube : @BBC
