Dolphins have for a long time been considered as being intelligent creatures. Some have said they are next to humans in the pecking order of intelligence. Of course, there are some who might say it should be the other way around. In the book, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams, only one human escapes the destruction of the Earth. However, the dolphins somehow found out about the coming destruction and built themselves a rocket ship and escaped death.
Okay, that’s fiction but they have certainly been compared to apes and chimpanzees who in ancient times, shared a common ancestor with us. The usual criteria that are used in rating how intelligent a creature may be is by finding the ratio of the size of the brain to what is the predicted brain size for a creature of the same mass. This is known as the encephalization quotient or EQ for short.
Using this scale, we came up with cats having an EQ of 1 and rats at 0.4. Humans, as you might imagine have the highest number at 7.5 with chimpanzees behind with about 2.5. So, what number does your average dolphin get? It comes in second behind humans with a number of 5.6 which is pretty impressive.
However, the scale is not perfect. Measuring intelligence is not an easy task. If we take the Intelligence Quotient tests known as IQ tests, which are designed for humans, they do not give completely accurate results as people can learn the tests and improve their scores. I remember trying them at college and going from 129 to 146 after a few practices.
So, attempting to define intelligence is difficult. However, there are guides to it. Intelligence should show an ability to learn and apply knowledge, to be able to understand new things and to be able to think in abstract terms. Scientists agree that dolphins have achieved all of these abilities and therefore, we can assume they are intelligent creatures. Additional evidence is that they live in communities, show emotions and can problem-solve. They can also be taught to complete complicated tasks and I do not just mean the tricks they are trained to do in a dolphinarium. They have. a strong sense of community and will help an injured member of their pod.
Another indication of intelligence which few creatures can accomplish is self-awareness. Scientists have come up with a test for this called the “mirror test.” It involves the test subject looking at a mirror and inspecting parts of their body which they would not be able to see without the help of a mirror. Dolphins have passed this test which is very impressive. Taking all this into account, you have to sometimes wonder, who is closer to the truth, the people who teach dolphins silly tricks or Douglas Adams.
John Pullen 