How smart are dolphins? - Lori Marino
3,361,091 Views
11,741 Questions Answered
Let’s Begin…
Dolphins are one of the smartest animal species on Earth. In fact, their encephalization quotient (their brain size compared to the average for their body size) is second only to humans. But exactly how smart are they? Lori Marino details some incredible facts about dolphins.
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Dr. Lori Marino
- Producer Zedem Media
- Director Michael Kalopaidis
- Artist Jeanne Bornet
- Animator Maria Savva
- Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
- Script Editor Alex Gendler
- Narrator Addison Anderson
by Ian Pack
Ian Pack
Lesson completed
Many dolphins are dying because of fishing nets. Do you have any improvements?
Dolphins are lured in by the caught fish.
Comments are closed on this discussion.
Leo Wiz
Lesson in progress
yes, of course.
Ian Pack
Lesson completed
in response to Lori Marino Show comment
Yes. I agree. furthermore I didn't know that ''dolphin safe'' did not mean that dolphins were not dying.Thanks for answering.
Lori Marino
Kanab, UT, United States
Lesson in progress
Yes, Ian. Thousands of dolphins die in fishing nets every year. They call this "by-catch" and it is happening all over. Part of the problem is that fisherman are still using the kinds of nets that dolphins cannot swim out of. Another part of the problem is that the oceans are being over-fished and there are just too many nets in the water. The biggest problem is that fisherman will sometimes set a net on a group of dolphins knowing that there are fish with the dolphins. Then they haul in the fish and keep them and throw out the dolphins. But the dolphins caught in this process are too injured or psychologically traumatized to survive. This is how most tuna is caught and even though we have been led to believe that tuna is now "dolphin safe", it is not. It just means that a smaller number of dolphins are killed yearly in the tuna industry than before. Thanks for your question. The solutions must come in regulations on the fishing industry.
