Dolphin altruism

After something like this, it becomes difficult if not impossible to believe that dolphins lack empathy, intelligence, or souls.

Dolphin rescues stranded whales – AP via CNN.com (edited for fair-use requirements; the full story at the link)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A dolphin swam up to two distressed whales that appeared headed for death in a beach stranding in New Zealand and guided them to safety, witnesses said Wednesday. The actions of the bottlenose dolphin — named Moko by residents who said it spends much of its time swimming playfully with humans at the beach — amazed would-be rescuers and an expert who said they were evidence of the species’ friendly nature.

The two pygmy sperm whales, a mother and her calf, were found stranded on Mahia Beach, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of the capital of Wellington, on Monday morning, said Conservation Department worker Malcolm Smith. Rescuers worked for more than one hour to get the whales back into the water, only to see them strand themselves four times on a sandbar slightly out to sea.

"Moko just came flying through the water and pushed in between us and the whales," Juanita Symes, another rescuer, told The Associated Press. "She got them to head toward the hill, where the channel is. It was an amazing experience. The best day of my life."

Smith speculated that Moko responded after hearing the whales’ distress calls. advertisement "It was looking like it was going to be a bad outcome for the whales … then Moko just came along and fixed it," he said. "They had arched their backs and were calling to one another, but as soon as the dolphin turned up they submerged into the water and followed her." After the rescue, Moko returned to the beach and joined in games with local residents, he said.

I’d sure like to meet Moko.  She sounds like an extraordinary being.