Gang violence in nature
by SouthernFriedInfidel | Published on November 9th, 2009, 11:42 am | Science
Biologists have been puzzled over several porpoise deaths lately off the California coast. The animals were found severely beaten, and washed up on the shores. Now it seems that the answer has been found -- a roving gang of dolphins has been filmed beating one to death and purposely drowning it.The biologists looking into this are guessing this may be a matter of male dolphins releasing sexual frustration in the absence of available females to mate with. I can't help wondering why they would attack members of a different species, though. Some sort of cetacean racism? Perhaps some issues with competition for dwindling food supplies? Lots of possibilities. Still, the notion is rather disturbing to me for some reason. The idea of a group of animals ganging up on single outsiders to kill them -- especially when they're so very close in appearance -- just reminds me too closely of some very ugly human behavior.