The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins

The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins, by cetacean biologists Hal Whitehead and Luke Rendell, is an in-depth exploration into the complex and fascinating cultural behaviors of whales and dolphins. Investigating communication techniques and sense of culture developed by different cetacean species, the book discusses the social learning, memory, and communication capabilities of these marine mammals, suggesting the existence of non-human cultures in the natural world. Considerations include how cetacean culture affects both ocean ecology and conservation efforts, as well as human perceptions and treatment of these intelligent beings.