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IS MAN THE CANCER OF THE EARTH?
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Takao Nojima
Marine Mammal Research Institute |
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Whaling
was an important industry for a long time for countries that are now
commonly called industrialized nations. Further, the whale that occupies
a peculiar position among mammals has been the object of interest
of naturalists. The results of the research have provided important
materials for comparative studies of mammals including man.
However, since some naturalists have highly rated the intelligence
of whales (which actually has not been clarified to a full extent),
a trend to regard whaling as an evil act has gained momentum in the
Western world. Further, the wildlife protection movement intensified
as a result of the spread of ecological education. At the same time,
if whaling had continued without the adequate scientific research
now available, it would certainly have caused a grave impact on the
whale resources, thereby inflicting no small impact on the ecosystem
as well.
John C. Lilly is one of the theorists who were instrumental in establishing
the view that the whale has a high-level intelligence -- a view commonly
used as one of the reasons to advance the anti-whaling cause. Lilly,
a neurologist who studied neurophysiology, came to know the high-level
communication capability of dolphins through his studies, and further
went on to research the possibility of communication between man and
dolphins.
The book "The Day of Dolphin", also presented in a film version, is
said to be based on the theory of Lilly. The plot of the movie is
that an attempt is made to assassinate the President by planting a
bomb on the bottom of a yacht using a dolphin trained to communicate
with human beings. Fortunately, this plan ended in failure. In a scene
of a press conference at the outset of the movie, Dr. Derel says,
after explaining the superb sensing capability of dolphins: "Dolphins
have a few enemies. Sharks, barracuda, fishermen who exploit fishes
randomly, and clumsy scientists who believe that the shortest way
to know about the brain of the animals is to dissect it with a scalpel"
As one who specializes in anatomy, I find it hard to accept his last
words because the foundation of biology lies in examining the structure
of organisms.
Anatomical studies still have a lot to pursue despite their long history.
Physiology, on the other hand, is designed to study functions, but
functions and forms are 2 inseparably related to each other.
The results of physiological studies based on the latest methodology
can be finally confirmed by the re-examination of the structure that
is the place of its functions. Many important data on whale biology
have been provided by anatomy. Here lies the significance of catch
research.
What are the criteria of animal intelligence? An argument is often
put forward to the brain weight or the proportion of brain quantity
to body weight as well as the state of wrinkles (brain vallecula)
which are observed on the surface of the brain. A larger number of
wrinkles drastically increase the space and volume of the cerebral
cortex covering the surface of the brain, and can provide for many
nerve cells. As a matter of fact, many whales have more vallecula
on their brains than humans do. Further, the density of the distribution
of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex of whales is not inferior as
compared with that of humans.
In the evolutionary process of animals, the nerve system has developed
adequately to guarantee their life. Land mammals that live in herds
have fully developed the capability to communicate with their companions.
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| "A
twisted sperm whale and an anchor" carved from zelkova tree and red
sandalwood,respectively. |
The
shade is made of the baleen of the minke whale caught in the Antarctic
Ocean.Three whales; right, fin and sperm whales showing in some Japanese
old books, are drawn in Chinese ink on the unglazed pot. |
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| "Konan
Maru No.20" made of the lower jaw of the sei whale. 1/270 scale. |
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The expectation that dolphins and whales must have high-level intelligence
seems to be based on an illusionary conclusion derived solely on the
fact that they have relatively large brains and have adapted themselves
to the special environment of the ocean.
Contemporary neurology has not progressed sufficiently so as to conjecture
the functions of the brain from the form of the brain among animals
which seem to be identical or similar. Although state-of-the-art technology
is applied extensively, the studies on mental activities of man are
still far from conclusive.
Diverse speculations regarding intelligence and mental activities
by animals, it seems to me, are in many cases our own assumptions
based upon whether we feel it is humanlike or not, when we observe
the behaviors and reactions of animals.
All the animals including mankind must obtain energy to maintain their
life and must procreate their posterity by the consumption of organisms,
i.e. other living things. It is a right given to all animals equally,
and is the fate of those subjected to predation. It is no exaggeration
to say that animals have evolved through what they consume, and eating
habits over a long span of time have allowed man to develop his dietary
culture.
In each geological phase before the birth of mankind, nature repeated
the cycles of destruction and reproduction. However, as a result of
the explosive growth of mankind, as the latest comer, the balance
of the ecosystem has been destabilized, with environmental contamination,
at a rapid pace and to a grave extent, both directly and indirectly.
The impact that has been, or will be, caused by man on the life on
the earth can be likened to a cancer, which threatens the survival
of mankind. Man should not allow himself to become a cancer cell because
the death of the body also means the death of the cancer cell itself.
Ensuring the ecosystem (including the food chain) to remain in a sound
condition and survive continuously is an important responsibility
of mankind. It is, so to speak, to guarantee the future of mankind.
Like other animals, man is also incorporated in nature. Its energy
source, whether it is from the benefits from the wildlife or those
from harvested or cultured resources, is in the end a benefit from
nature that can be reduced to the limited amount of solar energy provided
to the earth. Wildlife and cultured/harvested resources should be
considered as one whole set of resources.
Living resources are renewable by means of reproduction. The focal
point here is how to use the resources within an allowable scope without
causing their decline.
Harvesting of whales should be allowed only when the whale resources
can be managed sustainably at a certain level and compliance with
regulations and a supervision system is ensured in the actual whaling
activities. This is the view of the author, who approves the use of
wildlife including whales as resources on an appropriate level. |
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