# Dolphins Found Using Tools In The Wild **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235 "2005-06-07T00:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/1 "2005-06-07T00:52:06Z")
Holy Oaks, Mass.! [http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/06/06/dolphin.learning.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/06/06/dolphin.learning.ap/index.html) Tool use & language are the signs of intelligence. And we _know_ dolphins have language… ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/2 "2005-06-07T00:56:30Z")
_obligatory Douglas Adams reference here_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/3 "2005-06-07T00:56:42Z")
So long and thanks for all the sponges? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/4 "2005-06-07T01:41:24Z")
I would post the obligatory Onion link to their “Dolphins Evolve Opposable Thumbs - Mankind Doomed” story, but you have to be a member these days. Grr. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/5 "2005-06-07T01:43:25Z")
I think I speak for all of us when I say: oh shit. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/6 "2005-06-07T01:54:36Z")
That’s some pretty amazing stuff. What is their brain mass : body mass ratio compared to ours? How long until someone posts a stupid, played-out Kent Brockman reference? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/7 "2005-06-07T02:34:05Z")
It’s only a matter of time till they get wise and overthrow us. So we must strike first. Say NO to Dolphin Safe Tuna! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/8 "2005-06-07T02:39:16Z")
I think we better start working on a cover story now. If the dolphins take over and start asking about the tuna nets and sewage dumping, we’ll all say it was the orangutans’ idea. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/9 "2005-06-07T02:46:06Z")
> [@From the linked article](#): > > “I would think that they do not have time to engage in such a time-consuming foraging activity as adults, as they are busy herding females.” They herd their females. Maybe they are on to something. Sounds like superior intelligence to me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/10 "2005-06-07T02:50:08Z")
I, for one, welcome our Kent Brockman quoting overlords. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/11 "2005-06-07T02:57:20Z")
My favorite quote: > [@](#): > > Adult males form small groups of two or three individuals that chase females in reproductive condition How long before the first singles bar open? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/12 "2005-06-07T02:59:19Z")
Apes use rudimentary tools too, like using sticks to draw insects out of the ground. This isn’t really a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/13 "2005-06-07T03:12:07Z")
Isn’t the true demarkating line of sentience using a tool to _make_ a tool? I’m not surprised dolphins can use sponges as tools. Birds often use twigs to pry bugs from wood, and the apes are known to use tools in various ways. Hell, I’ve even seen _dogs_ use tools. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/14 "2005-06-07T03:43:11Z")
Looks like Larry Niven was right. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/15 "2005-06-07T03:51:02Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Looks like Larry Niven was right. 🙂 That’s exactly what I thought when I read the article. Gotta dig out _World of Ptavvs_ for a rereading. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/16 "2005-06-07T03:54:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Only one male was observed using a sponge. …and the other males made fun of him, demanding that he “make them a sammich, dammit!” ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/17 "2005-06-07T04:07:06Z")
When they start using DeWalt power drills and Milwaukee Sawzalls, _then_ will I be impressed. C’mon Flipper, hang that picture. That’s right, drive a nail into the wall, and hang that seashell picture! Oh, you can’t! And don’t squawk and chirp at me like that all “eeeheeeeeheheeeheeee” and shit. Swim your little ass over there, grab a hammer, and drive a friggin’ nail. Tripler [Homer]Stupid dolphins[/Homer] [sub]\* Note: I believe I’ll be going to Hell for this. . .[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Low\_Key\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Low\_Key\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Low_Key_1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/18 "2005-06-07T07:40:27Z")
Like some others have said, animals using tools in the wild isn’t really a new thing. New Caledonian crows do this. The video clip is pretty cool. [Tool-making crows](http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/data/crow/) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/19 "2005-06-07T08:04:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Only one male was observed using a sponge. But his sponge was _FABULOUS!_ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235/20 "2005-06-07T11:37:19Z")
I hope dolphins never devolve far enough to use squeegee’s at a stop light on a windsheild. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-found-using-tools-in-the-wild/307235.md?page=2)