At the time Dr. Dobbs was engaged in clinical studies of powerful psychotropic drugs and their modes of action in the brain and central nervous system. He was aware that the dolphin who had befriended him had a brain as large and complex as that of the human. The medical scientist became intrigued by the effect dolphins had on the people with whom they came into contact. He later discovered this was so uplifting that dolphins could help people overcome clinical depression. To investigate this he set up a project entitled Operation Sunflower. This research triggered an interest in alternative medicine and oriental methods of healing. The next phase is to investigate the role dolphins can play in our understanding and treatment of autism.
Dr. Dobbs is now actively attempting to mobilise concern for the environment in Japan. By tapping into the traditional spiritual values of the Japanese he hopes to redirect some of the energy they zealously deploy in the production of consumer goods to the conservation and protection of the environment and all animal species - especially the whales and dolphins.
In 1978 Horace Dobbs founded International Dolphin Watch, a non-profit organisation for the study and protection of wild dolphins. IDW helped to establish the UK’s first whale and dolphin sightings network and has gone on to initiate and support many projects throughout the world. Members receive information and news via the magazine DOLPHIN.
Dr. Dobbs has won numerous international awards for his visionary books and films.