Clever Dolphins Learn To Walk On The Wild Side

[Deepsound]

I just read this very interesting article.

"WDCS’s Dr Mike Bossley has been observing Adelaide’s Port River dolphins in Australia for the past 24 years (...) Cultural behaviours in animals have been identified in several species, particularly chimpanzees. However, most if not all the cultural behaviours described to-date have been of a utilitarian nature, mainly to do with obtaining food. (...) As far as we are aware, tail walking has no practical function and is performed just for fun - akin to human dancing or gymnastics. As such, it represents an internationally important example of the behavioural similarities between humans and dolphins. (...)

The demonstration of culture in non human animals has important ramifications for conservation”, Bossley concludes."

(From Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society)

More infos :

- http://www.wdcs.org/news_int.php?select=837

[Deepsound]

Clever New Caledonian crows go to parents' tool school

"Young New Caledonian crows learn to use tools by going to "tool-school", where they can observe their parents at work. (...) Earlier this year, scientists at the Department of Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand discovered that the birds were able to use three tools in succession to reach some food. " (BBC Earth News)

- Article on BBC website + vid showing how a crow uses tools

- Department of Psychology, the University of Auckland - Homepage + many vids about this research