Friday, February 25, 2005
Ode to Dolphins

Dolphins are quite incredible. In fact, they are filled with such romance and mystery that they are genuinely linked with science fiction and fantasy - You've seen those tacky posters with dolphins swimming while some sort of UFO is hovering above them, right?

They possess some incredible qualities - they can sleep in a semi-alert state by resting on one side of their brain, and help each other as often as they can, working in a team if needs be. Also, you may or may not know that they can see inside other dolphins and sea creatures, as their sonar evolved to pass through water and only reflects once it has hit bone or air sacs. Over 50% of water makes up an animals' body, thus giving dolphins to some extent, x-ray vision.

Not too long ago I read in the paper how a father and his two girls were swimming in the ocean when they noticed the fin of a shark coming towards them. You don't even need to take a gander under the water to be s**t scared of what's coming towards you. The fin is a terror trigger in its own right. Anyway, as the shark neared in on the three swimmers, they suddenly became aware of a small group of dolphins circling them, and taking jabs at the shark whenever it came too close. With their protection, the swimmers made it back to shore unscathed.

Truly incredible. But why should dolphins owe us anything? The answer lies in the fact that a few days after I read that article, I read another one about fishermen who had killed dolphins in illegal waters. A local expert proved that the dolphins caught in nets and butchered by these fishermen were the same ones that had protected the man and his children, as they were the only pod to be residing in the area at that time.

Why should dolphins owe us anything? They don't - but their utopian nature is an example to us all.

Posted by Matthew L 2005-02-25 15:23:01