Dolphins can imitate other dolphins blindfolded

LONDON - A dolphin can detect and imitate the fin splashes, swimming movements and other behaviour of fellow dolphins, even when blindfolded.

Kelly Jaakkola at the non-profit Dolphin Research Centre in the Florida Keys, US, says the study involved a male bottlenose dolphin named Tanner, who was blindfolded with opaque latex goggles, and still able to detect the movements of its companions.

Jaakkola says it’s still unclear if dolphins use sonar or naturally emitted sounds to detect fellow dolphins - a form of navigation called echolocation.

But she says the research is pursuing new insights about dolphin intelligence, reports the International Journal of Comparative Psychology.

As part of the experiment in a lagoon in the Florida Keys, trainer Emily Guarino blindfolded Tanner with special latex goggles, according to the Daily Mail.

At a command, another trainer told his dolphin companion Kibby to say ‘hello’ by flapping his fins on the water, splashing noisily in the enclosed lagoon at the Dolphin Research Centre, which houses 22 dolphins and is one of the leaders in dolphin cognitive studies.

Asked to imitate Kibby, Tanner was within seconds splashing back a greeting - a seemingly extraordinary feat given the blindfolded dolphin appeared to only be using sound to perceive and imitate the actions of his fellow dolphin.

The research suggests dolphins are master imitators that somehow can ’see’ their environment despite blindfolds. But exactly how such a dolphin can mimic another’s action is a matter of ongoing scientific study.

The centre’s director, Jaakkola, said the research to better understand dolphin intelligence will surely help further their conservation.

She said such a study may also be helpful in better grasping the complexities of human intelligence.