Dolphins, which we already know are unusually bright,
especially for mammals without arms or legs, are apparently even smarter than
we suspected. In a recent study of dolphin behaviour, it was determined that
the clever mammals can make a series of squeals and squawks that another
dolphin will recognize as his or her name.
What has not been widely reported is, the dolphins, once
their ability to talk was discovered, were willing to engage in a far more
detailed description of their plans. It seems they have determined, in their
affable way, that the oceans, as presently polluted, are incapable of providing
a hospitable home for the long-term. So, they've concluded they must eventually
move out onto the land.
Their first efforts to escape the thrall of the ocean, which
were mistaken by us as their sonar went awry, left a number of them washed up
on beaches where they, unfortunately, expired. As a result of these unfortunate
experiences, they’ve learned that the adaptation will take some time.
In an effort to give evolution a boost, they’ve begun to
imitate some of the more simple-minded activities we landlocked humans indulge
in, among them, Saturday night video games.
So now, on any given Saturday evening, the leaping
over-achievers can be seen gathered around a reef, gaming away.
As they continue to prod their genes, they expect to imitate
increasingly complex human activities and eventually move onto the land as our
equals, if not something even grander.
As one unusually forthcoming dolphin confided to a
researcher, “Hey, if the finny ancestors of human beings could learn to live on
land, what’s to stop a bunch of intelligent mammals like us from figuring it
out?”
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