Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures, known to be able to learn, cooperate, empathise, grieve, anticipate, fear and love, just like us!

Studies on the dolphin’s brain have shown that on average, the Encephalisation Quotient (EQ: ratio of brain size relative to body size) of the dolphin is 5.3, while that of humans is 7.4 The dolphin’s EQ is significantly higher than all other animals. Brain size is not everything, hence more studies have been carried out to prove dolphins’ intelligence. It was found that parts of the brain involved in higher-order thinking and the processing of emotional information are particularly expanded in the dolphins’ brains. With the myriad of brain studies, it is evident that in terms of intelligence and brain power, dolphins are second to humans.

Behavioural studies have revealed that dolphins not only have amazing learning capabilities, but they are able to pass new knowledge to others as well. Play is another expression of intelligence. Dolphins can come up with all sorts of games with to play with one another. When foraging for food, dolphins come up with creative ideas and tricks, honing their feeding methods and passing it down from generation to generation. They are able to make use of the tools around them to solve problems and are very quick learners. They demonstrate teamwork, revealing high levels of intelligence and social cooperation. Dolphins have also proved that they possess self-awareness, a trait considered to be a sign of highly-developed and abstract thinking.