One of the reasons that I don’t spend much time in online communities focused around cetaceans anymore, despite having a lifelong interest in these animals, is the rather zealous and over-the-top idealisation of orcas, especially the Southern Resident population, as being more noble and moral than humans. And, indeed, more noble and moral than other cetaceans - I once had a far too long conversation with someone who is convinced that the Southern Residents are better than all other whales and dolphins because, unlike dolphins, they don’t kidnap and murder baby porpoises. So I have to admit to feeling some glee to read that the Southern Residents have been… kidnapping and murdering baby porpoises. Turns out they’re not so noble and moral after all.
Orcas are amazing animals, to be sure. They are genuinely intelligent beings, and their capacity to learn new skills is both fascinating and worthy of admiration. But lets admire them for what they are: just as wickedly clever and capable of cruelty as any other animal on the planet, including humans. It does neither us nor them any good to put them up on a pedestal as somehow morally superior to us.
Well said. There’s a part of me that desperately wants to know there is a true, pure species on this planet that doesn’t stoop to sick levels of cruelty, but that’s not reality. Bambi noms baby birds, cetaceans mutilate each other’s babies, and we do the unthinkable every second of every day. Depressing, but here we are.
Bees are a democracy. Sure, they treat outsiders with suspicion and can be radicalised to great violence, but they’re one of the only animals on earth that eats without killing anything, not even a plant. And if they don’t like their queen, they have a revolution. They’re communists.
Quokka! They eat leaves, they have no idea about predators so are incredibly trusting and keep their babies in little pouches.
