Friendly Dolphin Gives Bunny a Handshake, and Now They're Best Friends
It sounds like the beginning of a hilarious joke: a dolphin tried to give a bunny on a leash a handshake. But this is, in fact, no joke. A viral social media video is taking TikTok by storm thanks to a precious bunny and a friendly dolphin who just wanted to shake hands-or rather, paws and fins.
This is the kind of pure joy we could all use more of right now. More than just a sweet social media video, the recent post highlights the curiosity and connection animals of different species can find when safely exposed to one another.
In the viral TikTok video, which has been liked by more than 100,000 viewers and received over 800 comments, an adorable bunny can be seen edging up to the side of a dolphin's tank at the Dolphin Research Center.
@ashleykelshaw When a dolphin tries to give a bunny a handshake
original sound - Ashley Kelshaw
The bunny is wearing a rabbit-sized flotation vest attached to a safety leash held by his human mom. While she secures the rabbit, he hops up to the edge of the tank, where the friendly dolphin awaits.
The dolphin slowly approaches the little bunny, who is completely intrigued by the water, the view, and the majestic swimming creature. Then, the dolphin cautiously extends his fin as if to shake the bunny's furry little paw before his handlers whistle him away and on to his next activity.
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Viral Dolphin and Bunny Interaction Melts Hearts Online
@funkaren.1 Dolphin Research Center, Marathon, Fla. #dolphin#Florida#research#training
Chill and gentle lo-fi/10 minutes(1455687) - nightbird_bgm
What's so special about this video is that despite the rabbit's and dolphin's vastly different sizes and species, each is curious about the other and cautiously checks the other out. Neither is aggressive nor timid, and they connect through the simple gesture of what looks like a handshake.
Commenters were completely charmed by the animal interaction.
"This is prob the 1st time in History a Dolphin met a Bunny," one speculated.
"They're communicating," added another.
One more shared, "awww they look so happy to meet."
"They both extended a limb like they were going to somehow flipper/pawshake ‘nice to meet you bouncer of the land I am the bouncer of the water,'" added another.
Known for their high intelligence and expert communication skills, dolphins are able to interpret physical cues and body language from other marine creatures and even other animal species. Commenters speculated that the bunny and dolphin were actually communicating.
It's safe to assume they may have been.
Related: Australian Shepherd's Cute Interaction With Dolphin Is Straight Out of a Storybook
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 5:45 PM.