Sperm Whales Adopt Kinky Dolphin

[Carolyn Bailey]

This is another insight into the complex social behaviour, and emotional inner lives of individuals other than human. We continue to see footage of other animals interacting in ways that indicate that their lives are full of complexity, conscious decisions to actively seek pleasure and avoid pain, and an awareness far exceeding that which many humans choose to understand. (see the last sentence in this article) Hopefully more footage like this may help to show these situations aren't as rare as may be thought. 

Sperm Whales Adopt Kinky Dolphin

German scientists have observed a group of sperm whales who seem to have adopted a disabled dolphin in a rare example of cross-species friendship. 

Alex Wilson and Jens Krause from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin found the group off the Azores islands in the northern Atlantic. 

The dolphin, an adult bottlenose with a poorly formed spine which gave him a twisted physique, was displaying trusting, intimate behaviour with the adult sperm whales and their babies, the researchers said. 

"These animals tolerated the dolphin. This is amazing, as sperm whales have until now never been observed indulging in friendly interaction with other species," said Wilson in a press release. 

His team suspect that the dolphin joined the group of whales because of his disability - which may have created problems physically keeping up with other dolphins. Another possibility was that his disability could have led him to be bullied or rejected by other dolphins. 

Yet why the sperm whales accepted the outsider into their group remained a mystery. 

"One should not go so far as to speak of sympathy - we think the whales may simply enjoy the attention of the dolphin," suggested Wilson. 

Photographs and details of the observation will soon be published in the journal Aquatic Mammals.