It would be inaccurate to attempt to quantify or qualify the intelligence of marine mammals. What we do know is that dolphins and whales have rather large brains and are capable of performing some very complex tasks. Genetically, marine mammals are predisposed to responding more efficiently to stimuli found in aquatic environments. They learn different tasks at different rates, faster than some species and slower than others. There is also great variation among individual animals of the same species.
Marine mammals are able to use sensory processes to an extent that still remains a mystery.
Trainers continue to learn more about the relationships between reinforcers and behaviors through direct contact and observing the animals. Correlating this data on a daily basis helps us to better understand the animals' natural behavior as well as their ability to learn. The rest of our questions remain as yet unanswered, but our curiosity continues. Killer whale calves mimic their mothers. All Rights Reserved.