Dolphin Names – Really?
Few creatures in the animal world are as charismatic and beloved as the dolphin. In recent years, films such as The Cove, have brought them more into public consciousness. People are very aware of the Japanese slaughter of dolphins and animal welfare groups are trying to win greater protection for them world wide. Dolphins typically live in pods of between 10 to 30 members and they are known to have an elabortate communication system.
Dolphin Speak
In the wild, and it can easily be argued that dolphins should not be held in captivity for the amusement of humans, they have active family groups and love to leap and jump and play. They are known to be incredibly intelligent, and in captivity, they are capable of learning all the flips and tricks that human trainers demand of them. This video is especially amazing – in that these two dolphins design their own trick for the trainers.
This fact, combined with the Janaury 2013 publication by Proceedings of the Royal Society B, that dolphins call their close family members and buddies by name is astonishing. Dolphins routinely communicate through whistles, clicks, squawks and pulsing sounds – but the name call is a signature whistle. In the wild dolphins can communicate across distances of up to 12 miles.
Watch this 2011 video and really think about the implications of non-humans having a language of their own!
