Dolphins

Dolphin intelligence makes these creatures a source of endless fascination for humans. But Barbara King argues that it is their emotional complexity that most tightly binds them to us. This emotional tie demands that we treat dolphins with respect and dignity.

India has just banned dolphin entertainment parks. They are "morally unacceptable," says a government ministry. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, the U.S. Navy announced that 24 dolphins trained to sniff for underwater mines will be replaced by robots. We are definitely confused about dolphins.

A bottlenose dolphin was found dead Saturday in Venice Inlet and examined by Mote Marine Laboratory scientists, who report that it most likely died from…