Intelligence and culture in dolphins and whales - and what this means for marine conservation

Dolphins and whales live in complex social structures and are characterized by a high degree of communication and cooperation. A large brain, long life spans and pronounced phases of learning make them "top candidates" for high intelligence as well as the formation of traditions and cultures. This richly illustrated lecture deals with the mental achievements, cognitive abilities and complex behaviors of dolphins and whales with numerous examples and experience reports. It is shown that they have enormous adaptability and flexibility. Within one and the same species, one encounters group-specific behaviors and dialects. For this reason, dolphins and whales are often compared to primates and other highly social animals such as elephants from a behavioural point of view. Some species even show signs of self-awareness and there is much to suggest that they have a rich mental and emotional inner life. The lecture is also intended as a plea for the need for a new perspective and a change in the way humans treat their fellow creatures, in which concepts such as individual personality and dignity must be given a new significance in animals.After the approximately one-hour lecture and the break, the "Mindful Conservation" concept for more mindfulness in marine conservation will be presented, followed by an in-depth discussion.

Course leader: Ritter, Fabian. Fabian Ritter studied biology at the University of Bremen. In 1998, he co-founded the non-profit organization M.E.E.R., where he is still active today as chairman and scientific director.Ritter has been a member of the renowned Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since 2003. From 2012 to 2023, he was Head of Marine Conservation at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Germany, where he worked intensively on topics such as marine protected areas, underwater noise and sustainable fisheries as well as the protection of harbor porpoises.In addition to publishing numerous scientific articles, reports and book chapters, Ritter is the author of four books. He works as a freelance scientific consultant, gives regular lectures and has been running practical courses and seminars on La Gomera for over 20 years. His travels have taken him to many of the world's oceans, from tropical and subtropical regions to the Arctic and Antarctic, and his current focus is on transformative work in marine conservation and the question of how paradigm shifts can be initiated and implemented in times of multiple global crises.