Iain wants to see this.
                 Kristin too for 2 reasons (1. Dolphins. 2. Theory of mind)

Well worth watching for the Dolphins + cool value.
Especially worth watching by anyone interested in theory of mind, animal
communications, animal thinking & intelligence etc.

Apart from being amazing to watch, this may have greater implications.
Dolphins appear to have both created a fun complex behaviour / game, passed
it on to their fellows by demonstration and have a good understanding of th=
e
practical mechanics involved.

                      http://bit.ly/DolphinBubbles

If this was just amazingly cool and unbelievable I probably wouldn't post
it.
There's far too much cool stuff around these days :-).

However - it seems there may be something previously unseen happening here.
Assuming that this is not an elaborate hoax. "Truth or fiction" make a
statement which indicates that the video did come from Orlando Seaworld BUT
that does not prove the mechnism.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/d/dolphin-rings.htm

However, if not a "setup"  then:

I don't know if this behaviour is unique to Dolphins at Seaworld in Orlando
Florida.
Gargoyle is uncertain. Reference to Seaworld at San Diego produced the same
video.
I found no other video or location in a quickish search - work calls alas.

If generic then as you were, watch the fun video, sorry to have bothered
you.

BUT if this only occurs at Orlando then
- A Dolphin produced an interesting effect, almost certainly accidentally.
- It noticed the effect and wanted to reproduce it.
- It managed to reproduce it consistently.
- Others saw the 'game' and wanted to copy it and did copy it.
- The Dolphins know that they can manipulate the rings to achieve various
consistent effects.and do so. How much control and how much knowledge is
uncertain.
- IF this is unique then the knowledge could presumably be transferred to
other Dolphins by bringing in as student for a while or sending out a
teacher.
- What implications has this got for our knowledge of Dolphin learning,
thinking ability, communications, ... .

Back to work


                         Russell
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