Divers Rescue Dolphin After It 'Asks' For Help

[GordMay]

➥ Dolphin Tangled in Fishing Line Approaches Divers for Help (Video) : TreeHugger

➥

Dolphin Rescue Hawaii.mp4 - YouTube

[SV.Maverick]

Very cool video!

[S/V Alchemy]

Was one of the divers named Androcles?

[Captain Grandpa]

Thank you GordMay!

[Blue Stocking]

When they think we have developed enough, they'll let us in on what they know.

[Captain Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

When they think we have developed enough, they'll let us in on what they know.

*looks at the world around him

We may never know

[perchance]

How can you not believe they have some level of sentience?

[saw77]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

When they think we have developed enough, they'll let us in on what they know.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Dolphins - YouTube

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by perchance

How can you not believe they have some level of sentience?

You can't.

"Intelligence" is a term with many definitions and interpretations. It's difficult enough to measure in humans, let alone other animals.

Large brains are traditionally associated with greater intelligence, and the brain of the adult bottlenose dolphin is about 25% heavier than the average adult human brain.

Generally though, larger mammals tend to have larger brains, and so a more accurate estimate of brain power comes from the ratio of brain size to body size - the "encephalisation quotient" (EQ).

Some dolphins have EQs that are more than double those of our closest relatives:
gorillas have 1.76,
chimpanzees 2.48,
bottlenose dolphins 5.6.
The bottlenose's EQ is surpassed only by a human's, which measures 7.4

Australopithecines - hominids that lived around 4m years ago - fall within the dolphin range: 3.25-4.72.

But we don't know enough about the workings of the brain to be sure of what these anatomical measurements truly represent. Today, most scientists share the view that it is behaviour, not structure, that must be the measure of intelligence within a species.

[rrclark]

Just amazing... Very intelligent creatures, that's for certain.

[Blue Stocking]

I was hooked (pun intended) when Scotty built the tank and transported the whales to the Enterprise.

[hpeer]

At our cabin in Newfoundland there was a Beluga that came around one year. It didn't ask for help but clearly enjoyed interacting with humans and was a playful and imaginative critter.

I'm pretty convinced that humans are only so much more "intelligent" Than other beasts is because we define the test rules to our favor. There is no good reason why there should be a smooth range of intelligence with one big leap at the top.

Thanks Gord.

[rognvald]

"But we don't know enough about the workings of the brain to be sure of what these anatomical measurements truly represent. Today, most scientists share the view that it is behaviour, not structure, that must be the measure of intelligence within a species" Gord May

Very touching video and interesting subject. I would agree with the above statement since brain morphology is an uncertain indicator of human intelligence. Anatole France, French writer and philosopher had a very small head/brain case yet was a much accomplished French intellectual in the late 19th early 20th century. His brain size is commonly mentioned in scientific journals. Conversely, we all probably know someone with voluminous skull credentials that would have a difficult time keeping up with our australopithicine forebearers. There was certainly a primal communication between the dolphin and the diver that transcended words. www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=half-brained-schemes

[Stonefloat]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing Gord

[Dulcesuenos]