A symposium on the ethical and policy implications of the
intelligence of dolphins will be held at the American
Association for the Advancement of Science 2010 Annual Meeting.
Research has revealed that dolphins have a large cerebral cortex
to body size ratio second only to the human brain. They are
complex, social animals with cultural capacity, a long juvenile
learning period and sense of self according to Dr. Lori Marino,
Senior Lecturer of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory
University and Faculty Affiliate at Living Links Center, Yerkes
National Primate Research Center. Dolphins recognize their image
in a mirror, an indication of self-awareness as seen in higher
primates and elephants. Studies show dolphins to have advanced
cognitive facilities to comprehend artificial language and
problem solve. These discoveries have crucial ramifications for
commercial policy and ethics and open up the topic of dolphin
personhood. There have been news stories of dolphins, as well as
other animals, coming to t