Friday, January 25, 2013

A Hopeful Close Encounter

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop

Years ago while surfing off Pawleys Island, South Carolina I had an incredible encounter with a wild dolphin. While the meeting was brief I nevertheless came away with the idea that something more had gone on than a just a lazy semi-naked primate and a curious cetacean bumping into each other on the edge of the ocean. I have no real evidence to prove this but I have never been able to shake the feeling that we both wanted to say something to the other but our extremely different methods of communications made that impossible.

When the video below came to my attention, you cannot imagine how happy I was to see how other humans and an injured dolphin were able to bridge the gap my cetacean friend and I could not. I do my best to keep a scientific frame of mind on the world and universe, but to see a wild dolphin swim out of the darkness clearly seeking help so a hook and fishing line that it had become entangled with could be cut away suggests a level of intelligence far beyond what we have come to expect. You cannot imagine how happy I am that everything worked out for the best this time for both species.

14 comments:

MikeP said...

This is great! Thanks for posting it.

Mike

Akelamalu said...

Oh this was shown on the news here yesterday and it brought tears to my eyes! I have always believed that dolphins are extremely intelligent and more than capable of communicating with us. How exciting for you to have had an encounter with a wild dolphin. I swam with dolphins a few years back in Tortola and it was a magical experience, I just wish they hadn't been in captivity.

Unknown said...

It is the height of human arrogance to assume that animals operate on nothing more than instinct, which can be modified to a certain extent through domestication.

Pearl said...

That was wonderful.

Pearl

Windsmoke. said...

Excellent stuff.

Sarge said...

Did some snorkeling off the neach in Thailand - beautiful clear water of you are in the Gulf Of Siam amd not affect by the mud from the river that flows out of Bangkok.
Small sand sharks and some sting rays it was nice.Hpwever, the beach by the house was infested with barracuda -ate one of those bad boys - butter, garlic, and Vietnamese fish sauce.

Good post!

Sarge

Pixel Peeper said...

This was great! I don't think we've begun to scratch the surface about our knowledge of dolphins. There's just something about them that we can't explain with what we currently know.

Ranch Chimp said...

I heard about this one, and was quite a story, was intending to cover it as well, but didnt get to it ... hope thing's are well for ya'll Bum! : )

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Self-important humans seem to think we're the only intelligent species on Earth, and yet, there are many many documented instances of inter-species relationships and communication of some sort. This is a wonderful video. Thanks for sharing it.

Randal Graves said...

Dolphins, like humans, are still bastards. But good on everyone involved.

Commander Zaius said...

Mike P: It was an awesome video.

Akelamalu: Not only did I have an encounter with a wild dolphin I also swam with one at the Orlando Sea world theme park. I had mixed feelings, and still do to a certain extent, about captive cetaceans but after behind the scene tour I find out Sea World does a lot for rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals. The education factor alone is normally enough to relieve my doubts. Americans are generally stupid concerning anything beyond popular culture, to the point I have heard some express surprise when they find out a dolphin or Orca is a mammal and not a "fish."

Jerry: Absolutely, this video was ample evidence.

Pearl and Windsmoke: Yeah, made me feel good about humans for at least a short time.

Sarge: Now that would be some awesome diving!

Pixel: What's the old say? "There are more things in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

Ranch: I know what you mean, I've been busy lately and have missed a lot lately.

Susan: You welcome!

Randal: If possible I'd still party with most dolphins than a number of humans I live around.

Life As I Know It Now said...

We are stupid if we think we are the only smart animals on the block :)

lime said...

wow, that was amazing. the dolphin was so patient with the diver. there was real understanding going on between the two. so glad for a bit of good news.

Mr. Charleston said...

No doubt that dolphins are special. I once saw a thing where they put mirrors in front of animals to see if they would recognize themselves. The dolphins immediately figured it out and began posing in front of it. They recognized themselves more quickly than Chimps.