Humans and nonhuman animals belong to a network of living things that have existed and interacted for millennia. The Biophilia hypothesis highlights the innate human need for nature contact and connection to ensure human well-being. Evidence suggests that contact with nature and its components, including animals, can both enhance well-being and encourage human concern for nature. The current study details the human well-being impact of animals, specifically dolphins. Exploration of eight key informant narratives examined the research question, “How do interactions with wild dolphins affect human well-being?” Analyses reveal various subthemes clustered into five main themes: Connectedness, Relationships, and Reciprocity; Emotion and Aliveness; Meaning and Making Sense; Accomplishment and Intention; and Harmony and Engagement. There are strong parallels between the identified themes and Seligman's PERMA model. Interpretation of how wildlife experiences benefit humans concluded that the features of life necessary for human flourishing also characterize people's experience with wild dolphins. Practical implications for well-being benefits include health practitioner use of “nature prescriptions” and “wildlife prescriptions,” which may in turn foster a sense of responsibility and care for nature. However, the parallel dolphin well-being needs to be considered and a balanced and ecocentric view achieved. These areas warrant further research.
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