I don't know many people who dislike dolphins. They amaze crowds in sea-life centres all over the world with their entertaining acrobatic displays and tricks. They are fun and happy fish and they seem to like swimming with humans. They are like the enthusiastic dog of the sea world and, at times, are a man's best friend. We hear of many stories where dolphins have saved men and women from the dangers of shark attacks. It seems odd for dolphins to go out their way to save humans with no real advantage to themselves.

Interestingly a dolphin is an air-breathing mammal (i.e. warm blooded and gives birth to young). Because of this evolutionists believe that the dolphin evolved from a land-based mammal like a cow or pig or deer. Does this story sound a bit far fetched? Can you imagine the changes that are needed for a land-based mammal to go back into the sea? Let us have a look at some of them:

Changes needed for a land-based mammal (e.g. a cow) to evolve into a dolphin:

• The animal needs to develop a good Thermoregulation system rather quickly before it freezes to death in the cold sea.
• The animal needs to develop a 'blow-hole' rather quickly before it drowns. Land-based mammals have a connection from mouth to nose. Dolphins don't have this connection to enable them to eat in water.
• The animal needs to change its bone and muscle structure rather quickly to enable it to swim well. If it could not swim well then it would be a sitting duck with regards to predators. Dolphins have a strong muscular body based on a light skeleton, which enables it to swim up to 25 mph!
• The animal needs to be able to cope with water pressure rather quickly. The deepest recorded dive for a dolphin is 547 meters. The pressure at this depth is about 820 lb per square inch (i.e. quite a bit).

This list is by no means exhausted. Many changes are needed for this so-called evolution to take place. If they were gradual changes over millions of years then how did they happen? Surely a land-based animal is suited to its environment. What would make a mammal, like a cow, want to go into the sea in the first place? Surely it was happy enough on the land? Even if it did go into the sea, it would drown - evolution over. Even if a million cows tried to swim, would they change into dolphins? Is it scientific to believe in such a fairy tale that is neither rational or repeatable?

The features of a dolphin all needed to be there from the beginning for it to survive 15 minutes.

Dolphin Facts:

• There are 26 types of ocean dolphin and 5 types of river dolphin.
• The gestation period for a Bottlenose dolphin is about 11 months.
• Dolphin calves are born tail first so they have a chance of survival. Remember that they are air-breathers. If the head went first, the calf would try to breath and drown.
• Dolphin calves suckle from their mother for up to 4 years.
• Dolphins shed their outer layer of oily skin-cells up to twelve times a day. This keeps the surface of the dolphin's body drag-free and lubricated.
• Each dolphin has a unique signature whistle to distinguish it from other dolphins.
• The life expectancy of a dolphin is about 20 years, though some have lived to 40.
• Dolphins sleep in a semi-alert state by resting one side of the brain at a time.
• A dolphin can hold its breath for 5 to 8 minutes at a time.
• Common dolphins can reach lengths of 7.5 to 8.5 feet (2.3 to 2.6 meters).
• Common dolphins eat squid and small schooling fish. Dolphins sometimes work together in herding fish into tight spaces using 'bubble' nets. This enables them to feast on masses of fish quickly.
• Dolphins are often found at the front of ships being pushed along by the waves. They seem to enjoy getting a 'ride'.
• Dolphins use an echolocation system (a bit like radar) for exploring their environment and searching out their prey in a watery world where sight is often of little use. The dolphin's brain must be extremely well designed for it to analyse the rapid and complicated information provided by the echoes. The system is extremely sensitive and complex. A dolphin can tell the difference between two slightly different metals - even though the metal objects look the same.

'Nature's design for a dolphin is much more efficient than any submarine or torpedo yet produced by man.' Professor James Gray (Cambridge Scientist)

The dolphin:

• Designed and created by God?
• A random animal that evolved from a land-based mammal?

You be the judge.

-LS