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“The brain size of whales is much larger than that of humans. Their cerebral cortexes are as convoluted. They are at least as social as humans. Anthropologists believe that the development of human intelligence has been critically dependent upon these three factors: brain volume, brain convolutions, and social interactions among individuals. Here we find a class of animals where the three conditions leading to human intelligence may be exceeded, and in some cases greatly exceeded.

The Cetacea hold an important lesson for us. The lesson is not about whales and dolphins, but about ourselves. There is at least moderately convincing evidence that there is another class of intelligent beings on Earth beside ourselves. They have behaved benignly and in many cases affectionately towards us. We have systematically slaughtered them. Little reverence for life is evident in the whaling industry - underscoring a deep human failing…In warfare, man against man, it is common for each side to dehumanize the other so that there will be none of the natural misgivings that a human being has at slaughtering another…”
Carl Sagan,

After a six-year, $9.3-million study, a coalition of governmental and academic researchers have revealed that the Gulf of Mexico is home to a unique species of Sperm Whale–and they also determined that the whales seem to be existing rather peacefully with an ever-growing E&P industry. The whales did not to seem to mind seismic activity that was several kilometers away.

The study also showed that these sperm whales don’t migrate–they stay in the Gulf year-round and were found in family groups of 10 or so.

A lot of folks expressed surprise that the Gulf would be home to these incredible creatures. But they shouldn’t be.

According to several studies by the federal Minerals Management Service, the Gulf is home to a number of well-known and some lesser-known whales and dolphins.  All cetacean species are legally protected.  The U.S. passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act that protects all marine mammals–whales, dolphins, manatees and seals–from hunting and any activities that might harm them. Additional protections were added under the Endangered Species Act.

The upshot–all cetaceans are protected.

Besides the sperm whales, which according to the latest study, seem to be a little smaller than their other-ocean cousins, here are some of the whales and dolphins that have been spotted in the Gulf: humpback whales, Bryde’s whale, Orca (a pod of Orcas made the news several summers ago when they were spotted taking a leisurely swim off the Texas coast), Melon-headed whales, short-finned pilot whale, pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, spinner dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, striped dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Risso’s dolphins and the rough-toothed dolphin.

The study was refreshing in that it proved once more how great Nature is. We are neighbors to a unique species of sperm whale that calls the Gulf home–let’s hope that we are good neighbors.

Stay tuned. More to come. The Gulf is continuing to surprise everyone with the incredible richness and diversity of life that is being found. I imagine, actually I hope, there are more surprises waiting for us.

–John A. Sullivan, News Editor, Oil and Gas Investor, www.OilandGasInvestor.com, jsullivan@hartenergy.com

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