Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents by Essen Marty

Author:Essen, Marty [Essen, Marty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Encante Press, LLC
Published: 2012-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

Before the expedition, Deb considered signing up for the scuba diving option, and I considered the kayaking option. Once the trip started, we never regretted passing on the options, as we would have missed too many wonderful Zodiac and shore-landing experiences. Deb was especially pleased with her decision, because the divers were reporting that the sea life was sparse, small, and dull colored.

The divers did have one notable exception to the mundane, however. They got to swim with the humpback whales!

As one of the divers told us, “The most amazing thing about the whales was the control they had over their huge bodies. They gracefully swam between us without ever touching us — we felt like such klutzes.”

Shipmate discussions about whales often revolved around the aura of intelligence they projected. In contrast to our observations, I found a statement on the Japan Whaling Association Web site equating whale brainpower with that of cows or deer. Though the JWA obviously wants people to think they’re only proposing to kill “dumb” animals, it does bring up the question: how do you measure whale intelligence?

Humans still have much to learn on the subject. The first studies of whale songs as a form of communication didn’t even begin until the early 1970s. In addition, conflicting physical characteristics complicate intelligence estimates. Although whale brains are physically larger than human brains, they’re smaller in proportion to their bodies. Conversely, the folds in the cerebral cortex (which scientists consider a trait of intelligence) are more numerous in whales than in humans.

One thing we do know is that humpback whales work cooperatively, blowing bubbles to herd small prey together for efficient consumption. The use of tools, in this case bubbles, points to a high level of intellect. Where whales rank on the intelligence scale in relation to other animals may not be known for many years, but putting them in a class with cows is insulting. As much as I like cows, a “moo” just doesn’t compare to a complex whale song, which may contain information about food, location, migration, and mating.

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