Wild Dolphins Observed Bringing Gifts to Humans

[Shankapotomus]

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/wild-dolphins-observed-gifting-fish-humans.html

While it's already well known that dolphins rank among the most intelligent creatures on the planet, new research is suggesting that they just might be one of the most magnanimous too.

A team of biologists recently published a study examining dozens of fascinating cases of inter-species generosity between dolphin and human, all taking place along the shore of Australia's Tangalooma Island Resort. According to their findings, wild dolphins have been observed bearing gifts, such as dead "eels, tuna, squid, an octopus" to wading humans on 23 separate occasions.

continued...

[snappyturtle]

1. Cool! nt

[Skittles]

2. so unlike cats

they bring us stuff we might consider eating

[ReRe]

7. So true, Skittles!

A little kittie story: I have two cats. One is a female and is a huntress. It is not uncommon in the middle of the winter, even with snow on the ground, for her to bring in a live field mouse to play with. (We have one of those little kittie doors so they can come in an out as they wish.) She even carries in a dead bird once in a while. Drives me OUT of my mind! It's so weird. We have no problems with rodents or bugs of any kind, and here she comes dragging them in!

[Skittles]

14. we really should keep them on leashes but.....

[ReRe]

18. My niece moved to NYC in the past year....

...she had to get a leash for her big cat. The "leash" is one of those wrap-around deals. When she first put it on Max, and tried to walk him around her apt so he could get used to it, he would fall over to one side on the floor. She says he has gotten very used to it now and she does take him down to the sidewalk for a walk around the block now. I need to look up my pictures and upload some of these cats I talk about on here. Yeah, that's a great photo of the cat on the leash. Hillarious! That tabby looks just like my "George". George was a stray, left behind by college kids. He looks like he's got a dirty nose, so I named him "George" after GWB (2003).

[SunSeeker]

19. LOL!

[TDale313]

3. Such amazing animals.

Probably their way of saying "So long, and thanks for all the fish"

[Skittles]

15. JACK HANDEY QUOTE

"I was at Seaworld tossing a bucket of chicken to the dolphins and Seaworld worker told me that dolphins only eat fish......well sure they only eat fish, if that's all you give them."

[lovemydog]

37. buaha!

Love it!

[Skittles]

39. another Handey dolphin one!

"Our hopes and dreams that one day we will communicate with dolphins...........our fears they will cuss like sailors."

[DreamGypsy]

4. Our dog brings his toys ...

The neighbor beyond our back yard has 3 horses that she lets out to pasture in the morning. Frequently, if the horses are chasing each other around the field, our 4-year old Great Pyrenees will choose one of his toys - a Kong, a rope, or one of the favorites from his collection of sticks - and bring it to the fence to (anthropomorphism injected here) entice the horses to play with him.

When my 16 month old grand-niece was visiting and picked up a stick in the yard, our Pyr brought his favorite blue Kong as an exchange ...



Anyone who lives their life in the close company of animals understands that the separation between them and humans is a bridge, not a chasm.

[ReRe]

9. That is precious ;-)

[Skittles]

20. awwwwwwww

[Odin2005]

24. CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!

[freshwest]

35. I love Great White Pyrenees. Big strong angels in furry suits. I love your:

Anyone who lives their life in the close company of animals understands that the separation between them and humans is a bridge, not a chasm.

[LiberalLovinLug]

41. Your picture made my day

After reading stories about asshole GOP reps, and exploits of the "rape gang", its healing to be reminded of the joys of life, the goodness in all living creatures. And the connection that a big beast like this can have with a small child. An animal that knows full well the harm it could do to such a vulnerable creature, but instead chooses to interact and find common interests. Of course it also has something to do with the child being a part of the "pack" and thus untouchable, but that would not explain that most every domesticated dog does not target other peoples kids either. It is a conscience choice to choose love and respect over fear and aggression, and this goes for ALL animals.

[tclambert]

44. "Albino bear about to eat small child"

Okay, it's really a dog, painstakingly bred over many generations to recognize a two-year-old human as its boss.

[maddiemom]

50. Beautiful dog!

[KeepItReal]

5. Dolphins gift Sushi...who knew?

[starroute]

6. Maybe they're interested in networking -- like the bonobos

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130102173312.htm

You're standing in line somewhere and you decide to open a pack of gum. Do you share a piece with the coworker standing to one side of you, or with the stranger on the other?

Most humans would choose the person they know first, if they shared at all.

But bonobos, those notoriously frisky, ardently social great apes of the Congo, prefer to share with a stranger before sharing with an animal they know. In fact, a bonobo will invite a stranger to share a snack while leaving an acquaintance watching helplessly from behind a barrier.

"It seems kind of crazy to us, but bonobos prefer to share with strangers," said Brian Hare, a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. "They're trying to extend their social network." And they apparently value that more than maintaining the friendships they already have.

[Control-Z]

11. And just maybe

they know their "family" of friends will still love them, pretty much no matter what, while the stranger might need the gift of a snack, or of their friendship. Or perhaps it's a way of expanding their own family of friends!

"And they apparently value that more than maintaining the friendships they already have."

[cliffordu]

17. I don't know if bonobo is interested in networking or not.

YMMV, as usual.

[freshwest]

8. It's a great time to be alive. I loved this part:

...it seems to suggest at least that the animals look upon us as not so different from themselves -- and that just might be the greatest interspecies gift of all...

[Shivering Jemmy]

28. Or perhaps these are mocking gifts

sort of like the King of France sending Harry tennis balls in Henry V.

If so, then this is a de facto declaration of war against us. We must prepare.

[demwing]

33. a little strident, eh?

why?

[Shivering Jemmy]

34. what?

[siligut]

32. Believing that could save the world

And all the creatures therein.

[James48]

10. Thanks for all the fish! n/t

[raouldukelives]

12. Probably frantic about the warming oceans.

Sorry dolphins. Wall St only takes cash, and of course, your home.

[ReRe]

13. I love Dolphins!

We took a little boat ride down in FL on one of our vacations when the kids were little. Had a glass bottom, the whole nine yards. But we spent most of our time up on top watching, listening and marveling at the dolphins as they followed alongside the boat. What beautiful chattery sea creatures. That they bring gifts is not surprising. They are so intelligent and friendly.

[1monster]

16. So, are they saying, "If we bring you food, would you please stop fouling up our

water world? Ya know, we gotta live here!"

[Javaman]

21. Was it a giant wooden whale? nt

[Ganja Ninja]

22. You don't suppose they see it as a religious offering?

[Curmudgeoness]

45. I thought that too, but

then I remembered that they are very intelligent.

[BobTheSubgenius]

48. That one cracked me up. Nice going!

[formercia]

23. A second-hand report:

We took a Whale Watching tour off of Kona Hawaii to see the Winter Humpback Whale population. In talking with the skipper of the boat, he recounted an incident that happened to him: Part of his work was to identify individual Humpbacks and noting them in his log. On occasion, he would go over the side with a snorkel to get a better view of the resting Whales. On one occasion, he was suddenly confronted by a pod of False Killer Whales. They had come up from the depths and were suddenly in his face. He said he was scared because he wasn't sure of their intentions. One of them came right up to him and presented him with the tail-end of a Tuna, after which they wheeled around and disappeared back into the depths. He said it happened so quickly that he had grab-hold of the Tuna remains to prove to himself that it was real.



These are big animals, Males weighing in at a couple of Tons.

[Odin2005]

25. Very cool!

[Botany]

26. they just want some cocktail sauce

[Shankapotomus]

30. This thread's got everything

Dolphins, Dogs, Cats, Bonobos and now Food.

No wonder it's on the front page.

I'm hungry now.

[LiberalLovinLug]

42. Free the Prawns!

There heads are ripped off while still alive. Then their shells are ripped off their bodies. Split up the middle to remove their intestinal tracts. Cooked up and dipped into a blood red sauce.

mmmmmm OK forget it.

[Botany]

43. Or put into Jambalaya or Shrimp Gumbo

and then washed down with beer.



not even talk about Pad Thai

[Enrique]

27. "hey let's go feed the humans"

"they seem so intelligent. Did you know, humans actually talk?"

[Shankapotomus]

31. They are probably trying to show us

they are not starving. They are capable hunters and must be trying to figure out why these humans keep giving them food. In any case, food giving seems to be a trait they learned from us.

[toby jo]

36. The most intelligent of mammals caught in the act of sharing

I wonder if they share with other mammals? Most other meat-eating mammals would be considered a potential threat. They must be responding to our higher nature. Or I'm guessing it's learned, like another poster said, since it is alongside a resort, they've probably been treated for some time.

Either way, pretty cool.

[FiveGoodMen]

38. I think it's a message of some kind

Can't make sense of it though...

What's a "Vogon"?

[ms liberty]

47. The only thing you need to remember...

About a Vogon is to avoid their poetry at all costs. Oh, and of course you must always know where your towel is.

[Marrah_G]

40. I watched a Ted Talk about a leopard seal that kept trying to feed a photographer

First with like penguins, then with dead ones!!!!

[Yo_Mama]

46. They think we're cute. n/t

[world wide wally]

49. Does this mean those dolphins are socialists?... Or are they just giving out gifts to get votes?

[Peace Patriot]

53. LOL! Good one! nt

[saidsimplesimon]

51. Dolphins, whales, Orcas we are all part of the mammal family?

[Shankapotomus]

55. They are not only mammals

but decedents of land mammals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_cetaceans

Welcome to DU!

[catbyte]

52. I had short yet profound contact with a wild Pacific White Sided Dolphin on Maui

several years ago. We were on a zodiac whalewatching in the Au Au Channel when we were suddenly surrounded by a pod of 24 or so. It was awesome. I peered over the side of the boat, and at the same time, one of the dolphins running along the side tilted his body a bit. So we were staring at each other eye-to-eye. What I saw was curiosity, intelligence, humor, and compassion. The only other time I was so profoundly touched by a wild being was a few years earlier on Maui when a female humpback whale came and hung out with us while 2 males fought over her. Cetaceans are incredible beings.

[Tutonic]

54. They would likely vote for Obama if human.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

56. love this! :)

Gotta run now---getting ready for work