garycs
20-Jul-05, 10:09
This is something that has always fascinated me, and with the now regular sightings of Killer whales in the Pentland Firth seems appropriate to mention.
Why is it that Killer whales target seals and fish, hunting them so efficiently but have never been known to harm humans? On the west coast of Canada there are numerous companies offering kayaking and swimming with Killer whales in complete safety. A person in the water would be easy pickings for such an effective predator.
Similarly there are dozens of documented instances of Dolphins protecting people from sharks or assisting a struggling swimmer. Why would a species protect a weaker (and in the water we totally outclassed) one in this way?
Could it be that when Douglas Adams, in the Hitchhikers’ guide to the Galaxy, claimed humans were only the third most intelligent species on Earth after laboratory mice and Dolphins, that he was not far from the truth?
Why is it that Killer whales target seals and fish, hunting them so efficiently but have never been known to harm humans? On the west coast of Canada there are numerous companies offering kayaking and swimming with Killer whales in complete safety. A person in the water would be easy pickings for such an effective predator.
Similarly there are dozens of documented instances of Dolphins protecting people from sharks or assisting a struggling swimmer. Why would a species protect a weaker (and in the water we totally outclassed) one in this way?
Could it be that when Douglas Adams, in the Hitchhikers’ guide to the Galaxy, claimed humans were only the third most intelligent species on Earth after laboratory mice and Dolphins, that he was not far from the truth?