WDCS Blog - From the Front Line

Will dolphins be recognised as persons in the coming decade? The article ‘Are Whales and Dolphins the Great Apes of the Oceans?’ was posted to the WDCS website before Christmas. In January, the Times Online published an article noting that some scientists are asking whether dolphins should be recognised as non-human persons. Could this be the beginning of an enlightened age?

We live in an era of increasingly astounding discoveries related to the intelligence of dolphins, borne out through their behaviour and the underlying brain and sensory anatomy. We now know more about the complexities of the societies in which dolphins live; their use of tools; transmission of culture between generations; the very specific roles that individuals play within these societies; and even their sense of self.

At a time when questions are being raised about the nature and role of moral systems within non-human societies, and the likelihood of evolutionary continuity for such traits, it seems inevitable that a spot light will come to rest on our own treatment of other species. This will be particularly poignant for those species for which we can reliably demonstrate a certain level of intelligence and capacity for complex psychological suffering.

In February, scientists will be meeting in San Diego, California to present some of their discoveries about dolphin cognition and to discuss with well known philosopher Professor Thomas I. White whether it is time we recognise dolphins as non-human persons. There is little doubt that we now have ample evidence that dolphins are indeed complex, highly intelligent beings with individual characters, a sense of self and emotional sophistication. If researchers are correct in asserting that some dolphin species are even more intelligent that chimpanzees, isn’t it time we formally recognised dolphins as the non-human persons which they clearly are?

It seems inevitable that sense will ultimately reign on this issue and we will come to recognise that there are other intelligences on our planet that are as worthy of protection as our own. However, the timeframe for these revelations is hard to predict. First we must begin the process of breaking down our own human-centric prejudice and let the facts speak for themselves.

Quite a few people have been looking at the very cold weather around Europe of the last few weeks and suggesting that this is disproving the notion that we are being affected by climate change. Their theory is that this is a sign that the planet is not really warming up. Sadly they are wrong.

It is not cold everywhere in the world at this time and, in fact, in North-east America, Canada, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and south-west Asia have all recently seen temperatures above normal. In some places this has been by more than 5 °C, and in parts of northern Canada, by more than 10 °C.

The immediate reason for the very cold weather in much of Europe at this time is that the air stream has been coming to us from the North. More usually it comes from the west in the winter and is warmed by the relatively warm Atlantic. (Typically this gives the UK milder winters than continental Europe.) For the last few weeks the Atlantic air movement has been ‘blocked’ and cold air has been flowing down from the Arctic or the cold winter landmass of Europe.

So what we are experiencing is part of the usual winter weather pattern (albeit it an unusually cold one) and it does not tell us anything about climate change.

The UK Met Office provides some further information here.

And please don't forget to put some extra food and some water out for the birds whilst the chill continues.

As is traditional at this time of year, the air is stirred by a gentle ringing of bells. But it is not the bells on a sleigh.

The Year, now ancient, her mind increasingly filled with holes, is ringing the bells by her bed summoning the Nurse. She doesn’t want anything except some company in her final days, and perhaps some reassurance.

She asks the question that she has forgotten that she has already asked many times before.

‘Was I kind?’

‘You were neither kind nor unkind’ says the Nurse gently, stroking her hand.

‘Will the people remember me? I would like to be remembered.’

‘Oh yes’, says the nurse, ‘You will certainly be remembered. You were the year when a great global recession lingered; you were the year when nations recognised that they were cooking the planet but failed to agree how to turn the heat down. You were the year when war, famine, weird weather and ignorance dominated global business. You marked the end of the first decade of the twenty first century. You were indeed an important and most memorable year.’

‘But I do not sound kind’, says the Year weakly turning her face away from the nurse, silent tears falling.

‘It’s not your fault dear old Year. It’s the people.’

‘What about the animals? Was I kind to the animals? I like the animals.’

‘Well’, the nurse pauses, and takes a deep breath, ‘Your passage saw a growing awareness by the people of animals as unique, valued, often sentient beings… as intelligences unlike their own, but still to be respected and cherished.’

The Nurse gently combs the grey tresses of the rapidly aging Year and smiles sweetly into her old rheumy eyes. He does not vocalise his own thoughts that, despite this awareness in some parts, cruelty continued to abound and people were more distracted than ever by their own immediate concerns. Nor does he mention that as conditions on the planet get more difficult, so he anticipates that the people will focus more and more on themselves and the animals will be increasingly forgotten.

But the Year has been reassured. ‘That’s good’, she gently sighs and then suddenly dozes. The Nurse tiptoes away until he will be summoned again to answer similar questions.

Soon it will be time to gently apply the medical sickle and the Year will pass.

Soon the jingling bells will be silent.

Soon, the Nurse will attend the urgent cries of the Baby, when little Twenty Ten arrives; a new year, even a new decade, full of promise and full of hope for all the denizens of the stressed planet.

The nurse knows that 2010 will keep him busy. There will be more people alive than at any previous time. Where the systems break down; the resources prove inadequate; or the planet rages in fever, then the merciful sickle will fall and the Nurse will take the fallen away. Where habitats and ecosystems fail he will do the same for the animals. So it is that some people, some populations, and even some whole species and will end before their potential span. But there is yet hope. A whole new year and a new decade to come that could mark a new beginning as novel rays of understanding and appreciation start to shine into the dark recesses of human minds. If humankind works together and applies its ingenious minds, things can still be resolved for the better.

The nurse stares into the void ‘Think people!’ he calls. ‘Think hard; understand and apply yourselves to your urgent responsibilities.’  Otherwise, in twelve short months, the Nurse will again find himself embellishing the truth for another dying year, and for all his kindness, he does not like to lie.  

Dear Friend,

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you, wherever you are in the world, a very happy Christmas, and to pass on our best wishes for the New Year from all at WDCS.

The past year has been one of challenges and successes. Despite a global economic turn down your continued support has meant the difference for thousands of whales and dolphins around the globe. From the jungles of the Amazon to the ice flows of the Arctic, there are whale and dolphins that owe you their survival.

Unfortunately, recession has meant that people cannot always be as generous as they have in the past, but also that Governments have been cutting back on their own conservation work and, at the same time, opponents of conservation have been arguing that 'in these times of pressing need governments should concentrate their resources on people, and biodiversity will have to take a back seat'. Others have even tried arguing that governments should only be concentrating on climate change mitigation measures, when instead the answers lie in moderating our use of carbon and building sustainable futures together.

Climate change is desperately in need of a solution. Whilst Copenhagen did not fulfill everything we hoped for, maybe it's a first step on the road to a fundamental solution.

However, expediting offshore renewables such as wind-farms without taking into consideration the impacts on cetaceans makes a mockery of our recent campaigns, for example, to stop oil and gas and military activities in the Moray Firth. You helped us win those campaigns, and demonstrated in doing so that the protection of biodiversity is paramount in helping to create a sustainable future for us all.

So instead of abandoning the protection of biodiversity we should remind our democratically accountable governments that there is a reason why people believe these creatures are worthy of strict protection. Some twenty years ago WDCS published a pivotal report on the ethics of whales and their protection entitled 'Why Whales'. This report explored the ethical, conservation and welfare arguments for protecting whales; it asked the question why? What is so special about this group of animals that inspires awe, appreciation and a desire to help and to protect? It helped drive forward the ethical debate of why whaling was wrong and why these remarkable creatures were held up as special the world over.

Since the publication of the report these arguments have evolved, along with the science that underpins them. The reasons to give this group of animals special consideration are more pressing today than they were even ten or twenty years ago.

The Earth's oceans continue to be negatively effected by human activities; from noise and chemical pollution, floating fishing nets and plastics, to climate change and ocean acidification, and, sadly, the slaughter of whales and dolphins continues.

Now is a good time to ask these questions again, to reassess what we know, and to ask ourselves Why Whales? This is explored this holiday season on the WDCS website by Philippa Brakes, leader of the WDCS Ethics Programme and is a timely reminder to all of us, as this first decade of the twenty first century comes to a close, of the reasons we are involved in this work.

In the same vein, we remember the plight of Corky, one of the stolen wonders of the ocean; still held at Sea World, but whose plight was a rallying point for many who were motivated to get involved with cetacean conservation.

And it is this fundamental concern for the welfare of the individual and protection of cetacean populations that sets WDCS aside from many other organizations. Yes we have conservation in our title, but we are much more than that, - because we believe whales and dolphins deserve more, much more..

2010 will be another challenging year, but we should not be daunted. We should welcome the further emergent scientific evidence of why we should champion these wonderful creatures and we should build on this to take the debate to the heart of those who would threaten them. Let not recession or misguided governments hold us back; let us together be the voice for whales and dolphins, everywhere.

Together we can achieve remarkable things for these remarkable creatures.

Thank you again for your amazing support,

Chris Butler-Stroud
WDCS Chief Executive

Of all the post Copenhagen wraps up, George Monbiot pretty much sums up my feelings about the outcomes of the Copenhagen meeting, but others also remind me that there is still some hope.

Unlike many, I am not so worried not to have achieved the much sought ‘legally binding agreement’ at this meeting. It’s a lot to secure from so many Governments in such a short space of time.

I am a fan of global process. I am believer in the power and purpose of civil society. I am confident that the UN holds an important role in our future (when it overcomes the bureaucratic problems of the present). And, I know that when Governments want to, and the right negotiators are in the room, they can fundamentally change the way the world is structured.