Based on The Atlantic's reporting, Peter had reached sexual maturity around that same time and had frequent sexual urges, which distracted him as a test subject. At first, scientists moved Peter to be near other female dolphins, but that proved to be too inconvenient and disruptive. Peter was also not shy about turning to Lovatt when the mood struck him. At those moments, he pushed himself against Lovatt, who later recalled (via The Atlantic) "I wasn't uncomfortable — as long as it wasn't too rough. It was just easier to incorporate that and let it happen, it was very precious and very gentle."
Shortly thereafter, Lovatt began to take the lead. Instances of zoophilia — or sexual attraction between human and animal are not unheard of, but sexual contact between humans and animals is banned in many places, as Britannica notes. That list includes 31 U.S. states, as The Guardian elsewhere explains. Reportedly, within zoophilia exists delphinophilia, or sexual attraction to dolphins, as The Atlantic reports. Also noted by The Atlantic, one legend says that the pink river dolphins in Brazil turn into young men at night that then get blamed for sex crimes for which human men are responsible.
Back in St. Thomas, the relationship between Lovatt and Peter developed to the point she moved into his facility to be closer to him, but purportedly for the sake of the study. Lovatt created a space for herself to live 24 hours a day near Peter's pool, at which time the sexual relationship continued. Lovatt later described it as less sexual on her part but sensual (via The Guardian).
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