Amazing animals - 'are humans as intelligent as dolphins?'

News item extract:

 

"A small group of experts in philosophy, conservation and dolphin behaviour were canvassing support for a "Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans".

They believe dolphins - and their whale cousins - are sufficiently intelligent and self-aware to justify the same ethical considerations given to humans.

Recognising cetaceans' rights would mean an end to whaling and the captivity of dolphins and whales, or their use in entertainment."

I've included this article because I find it interesting that scientists, and indeed most people, love to study animals such as dolphins and their level of intelligence.

To me, intelligence is a perceived idea that humans are extremely arogant about.

We consider ourselves to be the most intelligent species on the planet - but surely intelligence is a relative quality?

Different animal species don't need to split the atom, understand quantum physics, make computers or do brain surgery. So I would ask this... does it make them less intelligent and therefore worthy of less respect and care in our world?

Other animal species, through instinct, evolution and thousands of years experience (passed on generation to generation, just as with humans) have learned what they need to know in order to survive. Observation shows us that they have developed complex communities, civilisations even (look at ants and bees for example), and ways of communicating.

They are as intelligent as they need to be.

I'd argue that they are also ALL self aware. An animal with a central nervous system and with a brain will think and be able to feel, and whilst they may not understand the concept of seeing their reflection in a human designed item called a 'mirror' - this doesn't mean they are not self aware. It simply means that they are different to humans.

In fact, when you think about it - other animal species (with a few exceptions, such as killer whales and magpies, to name but two, - who toy with other animals lives for 'fun') only use other species for food through necessity.

Whereas we humans don't need to eat animals in order to survive. In fact eating them is causing the opposite - it's killing the human race slowly with disease and environmental devastation.

We are not acting with the intelligence that we proclaim to have.

We are not acting with the compassion that we claim intelligent beings have and ...

we sure as hell aren't at the top of the evolutionary scale in my eyes.

So it's time we studied ourselves, not dolphins. Humans need to become equal to them. ALL animals have much to teach us. ALL humans have much to learn and I'm looking forward to that day when we finally do.

Chantal xx

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/dolphins-are-people-say-scientists-28716960.html