“Beasts of science” is like a collection of stories. Beautiful stories that tell the living in all its freshness. But also in all its complexity. A parenthesis to marvel at the treasures of the world. For this new episode, let’s meet a mischievous animal: the dolphin.
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[EN VIDÉO] A bottlenose dolphin in mourning In June 2017, a group of researchers observed a bottlenose dolphin interacting with a deceased calf in the waters of the Gulf of Ambracia, in western Greece. One more proof that cetaceans mourn their dead. Especially when it comes to loved ones. And the mark of a certain emotional intelligence developed by these extraordinary marine mammals. © Tethys Research Institute
Swim with dolphins. It’s the dream a lot of children. And come to think of it, quite a few adults too. Yours, perhaps? Even if I don’t share it — for that, you would have to feel like a fish in water… and I don’t quite agree — I understand it. The dolphin, it is well known, knows how to be both gentle and mischievous. He is social too. A bit of the ideal friend in short.
In ancient Greece, it was even more than that. His breathtaking beauty had propelled him to the rank of incarnation of Apollo, the god of arts and light. We saw him as a guide capable of leading men to another world. Hence, perhaps, this almost age-old dream of swimming with dolphins. That being said, we must not forget all the same that the dolphin is a wild animal. It is therefore rather fashionable to avoid disturbing him when he evolves in what should always remain his ” garden “.
But what really interests us here is theintelligence of this marine mammal. Because it is amazing to say the least. For some researchers, the dolphin should even be considered thesmartest animal species after the human. Because he is gifted with a sacred memory and is able to be creative in solving problems. Or because he is aware of himself… and of others too. Because he is even aware of the future and of death. And that is really not given to everyone.
Dolphins have friends and buddies
The dolphin is also a champion of social intelligence. He lives in community. And he invented a language of his own. It even seems that a dolphin that lives in isolation on the west coast of Scotland — it happens when an individual is separated from the group in which he was born, because of a storm or because his mother has disappeared — has learned the language of porpoises. While dolphins rely on clicks, pulses and whistles to communicate, this dolphin — a female named Kylie — speaks without whistling. Only extremely high-pitched clicks. Like its cetacean cousins.
Perhaps because these vocal exchanges strengthen the bonds. This is what researchers have been able to observe in groups of Bottlenose Dolphins, on the side of Australia. When it comes to dolphins that are close to him, the marine mammal prefers contact physical. He rubs and caresses those who are dearest to him. But this does not prevent him from maintaining social relations with others. It even seems essential to him. Because it would seem that those who have the most social relations are also those who have the most children. So the dolphin does not hesitate to use and abuse whistles.
This is, it seems, the way he has found to widen his social circle. To make friends. Sometimes lots of friends. without losing friends. Thanks to a remote voice link that replaces a much more time-consuming physical link. Whistles for some, “papouilles” for others. What, for scientists, raise new questions about the origin and evolution of language. And for the dolphin, to show once again that he is… not so stupid!
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