Dolphin rescues stranded whales

They understand the concept of play/fun/mischief. Anyone who´s spent time playing with them will know they have a keen sense of humor. This is why most people who swim with them feel exuberated/high/uplifted afterwards. Fun/Play is a concept many "adults" dont understand...and that is a sign of decreasing intelligence.

Originally posted by jojoKnowsBest
A great story that lifted by heart.

I have been very lucky to see whales and dolphins in their natural environment and they are amazing creatures with a great presence. I remember looking at a museum exhibit of different animal brains and they had the brain of a pilot whale and it was huge.

I’ve heard sonar can screw with cetaceans navigation abilities and could be a possible explanation for the beaching. Sometimes when there are mass beachings I think it may be suicide or something, maybe because of a lack of food. I think we would truly be surprised how intelligent whales and dolphins really are, and just like aliens from another planet they have evolved in a completely different world then we have, so how can we truly understand what goes on in those heads? If they evolve fingers and legs they might end up the dominant species.

Thanks for that post. That is what I have heard too. Whales could adapt over time, but we have not given them that time.

It's a nice break from alarmist 'coming catastrophe' stories.

Recently, I noticed a picture on a member's profile (Helmutt) of a polar bear frolicking with a husky. I wish I could remember the site he shared with me, there's a whole slideshow. The photographer was setting up to take pictures of the dogs and the bear came out of nowhere He said he thought his dog was minutes from death, because the bear hadn't eaten for months. They proceded to play and the bear came back every night for five days. Just to play. They say this behavior has been reported amongst polar bears and wolves.

I just want my cats to get along.

reply to post by Silenceisall


I think adaptation on that scale would take centuries if not longer.

If they evolved to walk the earth, I think the human race would be in trouble. They'd probably be smart enough to see us as the threat we are...

That was such a great story, thanks for posting it up, Silencesall And thanks for sharing your story Crackeur. Ironically I read this now, just a few week ago, my Geography was discussing about the animal intelligence, and I agree with him man its a shame that we as human undermine the intelligence of certain animals. I'm really fascinated about this cross species communication and relationship, I wonder if cases like these are more common that we ever expected.

Anyways this is very touching to me because what can I say I'm an animal-type guy, I love them. And I can tell you some of the pets I had act very human sometime, and may have more common sense then some people I've met in my life.

I hear this story and it warms my heart, but then I think about that mass of garbage in the pacific.

Megatons of plastic and trash.


This is how we repay the ocean?

No wonder they are having a hard time navigating, we are polluting at an alarming rate.

[

Was I the only one reminded of The Simpsons?

CT

LOL....that episode is the first thing that I think of every time I see something involving dolphins.

I can't decide if that's funny or sad.....

Dolphins are the most amazing and fascinating creatures on this planet, in my opinion.

We humans like to claim we're superior because we have a social structure, governments, technology, and can speak with one another.

But who says animals don't have a social structure? Do parents not care for their offspring? Do they not identify with those they are close to? Do they not have trust - knowing which of their kind to be around and who not to be around?

Who says they don't have governmental leadership? Aren't there "leaders of the pack"? So why can't animals take on leadership roles and serve the interests of the pack as a whole - the same thing governments are supposed to do for the people? And even if they did not have this, please give me one good reason why this makes humans superior. Why do we need it? Because we're too stupid to operate without it?

Technology. I have two words: WHO - CARES! Great, we have cell phones. Woopty doo. If we didn't get so careless and so lazy with our lives and put our lifestyles in the hands of others and lean on technology, and knew how to feed and fend for ourselves like animals know how, and have to do to survive, would we really need all of this technology? No. So the question becomes - how does it make us any better off?

Being able to speak to one another is a bunch of crap. Simply because we can't understand them doesn't mean they can't speak with one another. Hell, we can't even understand some fellow humans. At least they can speak with all of their species.

You see stories like this about dolphins, caring for humans, caring for whales, FIGHTING OFF SHARKS, and you see chimpanzees beating out humans in memory and math tests - it just goes to show you that we're not as great as we hype ourselves up to be.

We have control of the planet. That's obvious. But that doesn't mean we're superior. Did it ever cross anyone else's mind that maybe animals do not care about that? Maybe they don't feel as if they need to kill each other and other species for profit or greed? Maybe they don't feel war is necessary? Maybe they don't have the egotistical psychopathic mindset that we do that strives to conquer as much territory as possible. Maybe they just LIVE! Maybe we need to try that sometime.

Through all of our "accomplishments", it just makes us that much more pathetic. We strive to fill the history books with nonsense in order to build ourselves up as this great advanced species, but when do we ever take the time to just live? We're always at war, always fighting, always paying our debts, always stressed about how our shortage of meaningless paper money will cover our pathetic materialistic lifestyle, all the while polluting the planet that has given us so much, and killing off species like dolphins or chimpanzees, among others, through deforestation, pollution, careless hunting and meaningless poaching, many of which have done absolutely nothing to us to deserve such treatment, and have even HELPED us!

When we start hearing stories of humans swimming around a stranded or injured dolphin to protect it from a great white shark and stop hearing stories of humans picking up injured cows with forklifts, then maybe I'll reconsider my position that we're not as great as we think we are. Until then, the next time some of you insult "animals", just remember that despite your ego, you're an animal too.

Originally posted by InSpiteOf
If only all of humanity was this kind/compassionate towards others on this planet.

Yes, it would be nice if more people engaged in the golden rule. What I think we could all stand to learn from this dolphin is that so often, giving of yourself doesn't cost a thing. To help someone else out doesn't necessarily mean giving money. It's like that insurance commercial (of all things) where one person helps someone else in a minor way and someone else sees it, which leads to a chain reaction of people helping others which eventually makes it back to the original person. Haha I love that commercial! Holding the door for someone, helping someone carry something heavy, even smiling doesn't cost a thing and it can change the flow of someone's whole day.

We've all been burned from helping someone who may or may not have deserved it. But we shouldn't let that stop us from helping someone else in the future. Don't let's become cynical.

Great article!

THAT is so darn cool!
Dolphins are so amazing! I wonder if they're like shepherds of the sea or something?!

reply to post by NovusOrdoMundi


This is the crux of it for me:

"We have control of the planet. That's obvious. But that doesn't mean we're superior."

...although I think we have less control than we believe.

But yes, we have mastered the animal world, but with that kind of control comes great responsibility and a need for even greater humilty. We're having a hard time with that.

Nice post. Thanks.



[edit on 12-3-2008 by Silenceisall]

reply to post by Silenceisall


The first environmentally conscious example in literature (that I'm aware of) was the Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh wanted to cut down a neighboring cedar forest to build his city of Uruk, but "Enlil" (sumerian god, who sounds a great deal like the biblical Jehovah) said "No, they will not grow back if you cut them down." (paraphrasing) Gilgamesh (who is the equivalent of biblical Nimrod) decided to do it anyway. And that cedar wood forest never grew back. Apparently, it had a lot of really old cedars, past the time of being able to grow more cedars or something. I'd have to review it, to be sure. But yeah, even some of the "gods" were worried about the environment all those long years ago (circa 2800 BC or thereabouts).

Yeah, dolphins are smart....but its pretty crazy to say that they are smarter than humans, come on now....

What, beautiful, fascinating creatures they are. I don't think it's a stretch at all to call them as smart or smarter than humans. They have achieved an equilibrium with everything around them, despite being at the top of the oceanic intelligence chain. I used to surf when I was young, and they would often come near me in a playful manner and even ride along the same waves I would catch. They are wonderful friends.

Originally posted by InSpiteOf
reply to post by Silenceisall

 

I think adaptation on that scale would take centuries if not longer.

If they evolved to walk the earth, I think the human race would be in trouble. They'd probably be smart enough to see us as the threat we are...

Actually it's been proven that dolphins and whales evolved from wolf like creatures and eventually went into the water and developed fins.
So in terms of evolution they've been there done that.
Maybe manipulating (things) with your hands is not such a big deal as far as intelligence....hmmmmm?

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


I agree. We went on an ocean cruise on one of those big cruise ships and went up to the top deck to look down at the ocean. I told hubby I hoped we would get to see a dolphin and no sooner had I said that, one appeared and swam along beside the boat for a few minutes, on the same side of the boat no less and right below where we were standing. Moments like that add strength to the phrase "I don't believe in coincedences" (although I do believe some things are coincedence, that particular example was perfectly timed)

[edit on 12-3-2008 by undo]

I loved reading this news! This article really does show that nature is not merely something to be exploited by humans. Animals and etc. are not simply "under" humans in nature's ladder. This dolphin, essentially, did something that humans couldn't do . Thanks for sharing!

Such a very cool story. One of few that warms the heart. Just when they were about to give up Flipper/Manto comes to the rescue and deals with it in 'a matter of minutes'. Hope they had a few cod in a pail and a beachball to play with, when he completed his task.

This is quite refreshing to read. Dolphins are amazing creatures that do care about other life. Not only are they smart, but they work together. I am always impressed and in awe when I read something like this from dolphins. They are more valuable than the way they are treated and hunted...these beautiful animals should be protected at all costs from hunters/poachers/fishermen.

What a great story in amongst so many other depressing ones! I have never had the priviledge of swimming with or even being near dolphins but I do think they are beautiful creatures. Several family members have had the opportunity during vacations to swim with dolphins and said it was just awe inspiring and truly emotional.

Maybe one day I will be able to do it too!

Michelle