Is there any doubt dolphins are the coolest animals on the planet?

[Squatch]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6565810/

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A pod of dolphins circled protectively round a group of New Zealand swimmers to fend off an attack by a great white shark, media reported on Tuesday.

Lifesavers Rob Howes, his 15-year-old daughter Niccy, Karina Cooper and Helen Slade were swimming 300 feet off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on New Zealand’s North Island when the dolphins herded them — apparently to protect them from a shark.

[nickinSTL]

1. wow, dolphins are cool

And it's amazing what they seem to do.

Makes you wonder what they think about humans...

Cool as they are though, they're not cats :evilgrin:

[flvegan]

2. Yes, they are, which is why I wonder why we

allow this sort of thing to happen (and dolphins have been long known to assist humans at sea):

From Sea Shepherd (www.seashepherd.org):

"On October 29, 2004, an entire family of defenseless Risso’s dolphins was systematically exterminated in Taiji harbor, Japan. The orgy of killing lasted five hours as the bay turned red with the hot blood of the sensitive marine mammals."

"Even more obscene is the blatant complicity by representatives of the captive dolphin industry. The logos of Dolphin Base, World Dolphin Resort and the Taiji Whale Museum could be seen among the gang of thugs and butchers gleefully spearing, slashing and stabbing the innocent dolphins.

Occasionally during the day, a prize specimen was selected by a dolphinarium expert, and the stressed young animal could be seen inside a steel cage as it was taken away amid the death screams of its entire family in the background. The chosen ones were small and young, hauled from the water and away from the bleeding, screaming bodies of their mothers."

"With Taiji, the Japanese can now claim total supremacy in the art of infliction of cruelty and death. Months from now, Japanese children will laugh and clap gleefully as these same few captive dolphins jump through hoops and beg for fish. Not a thought will be given to the bloody price paid by the dolphins to capture these enslaved entertainers. The sterile blue and sparkly dolphinarium pool will hide the memory of the harbor filled with blood, dozens of dead and dying dolphins screaming as their eyes are gouged out, flippers are torn, and intestines are ripped from their bellies as blood spurts from their blowholes. All of this vividly etched on the memory of the young performers-to-be."

[jayfish]

3. Them Fish Is Smart.

Why can't we put bombs on'em er sumpin and hav'em swim over to fallooja. They'ed blow up them terrists real-good. Yup, them fish is smart.

Jay

[fugue]

7. We've tried it. They've deserted.

Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, I read a report that the Navy's trained dolphins were deserting. Apparently they had some way of knowing it was desertion rather than the dolphins getting killed in action.

They really are smart, them marine mammals.

[Squatch]

9. They would have to be amphibians to do that...

[jayfish]

10. Naaa...

just have'em swim up that-there Tiger-Freight River and then, WHAMMO, bye-bye Mr. Insurgent.

Jay

[fwiff]

4. Another meaning for "dolphin safe"

Dolphins are more altruistic then we are. Too bad we're not protecting them as well.

Not that lots of people aren't trying, but yet another example of B**h easing ethics for profit.

[hlthe2b]

5. Love, love, love dolphins... but I'm sort of fond of those warm, cuddly

doggies!

Both are smart enough and loyal enough to protect you, warn you, shelter you!

[fugue]

6. Yes

Dolphins have the same altruistic tendencies we do. This is not the first time they have saved humans from sharks.

They also, however, have the same unpleasant tendencies we do. There is usually a member of the pod whose presence is tolerated only because they are the group scapegoat. The other members of the group abuse them mercilessly. It's believed to aid group cohesion.

As the scapegoated member of my own social group throughout my childhood, I am left with strong reservations about dolphins. Gimme an intelligent and friendly dog (that is, one that is still a dog and not browbeaten into being a furry robot) over a dolphin any day. Dogs have an even greater record of saving humans and a much lower incidence of scapegoating.

[luaneryder]

8. "So long and thanx for all the fish"

as the dolphins exit *'s scorched eaerth.