08-25-2005, 02:13 PM
On the other hand, I supported the original adoption of the Protection of Dolphins resolution, and see nothing in the repeal proposal that pursuades me to change my mind on the original proposal.
As I noted at the time of the vote on the original, there were news reports (at washingtonpost.com, and when I googled, there were other earlier scientific articles as well) that continue to document the existence of not just social learning, but culture among the dolphin speices.....the existence of cultural traditions is something that requires a higher level of thinking that merely being able to remember learned behavior.
For this reason, there is a rationale for special protection for dolphins, and I vote against the repeal proposal.
As I noted at the time of the vote on the original, there were news reports (at washingtonpost.com, and when I googled, there were other earlier scientific articles as well) that continue to document the existence of not just social learning, but culture among the dolphin speices.....the existence of cultural traditions is something that requires a higher level of thinking that merely being able to remember learned behavior.
For this reason, there is a rationale for special protection for dolphins, and I vote against the repeal proposal.