WTF? Dolphins and whales on the E-D?

[Sionnach Glic]

In the Galaxy class starship, ongoing system research tasks are handled by a mixed consultation crew of twelve Tursiops truncatus and T. truncatus gilli, Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, respectively. This crew is overseen by two additional cetaceans, Orcinus orca takayai, or Takaya's Whale. All theoretical topics in navigation are studied by these elite specialists, and their recommendations for system upgrades are implemented by Starfleet.

Dolphins and Orcas on the E-D.
What.
The.
Fuck?

I'm not sure whether the WTF or head-banging emoticon is more aplicable here.
I'm just glad the TM isn't canon, so we don't have to try to rationalise this idiocy into the show.

[Aaron]

Unfortunatley it is canon, in a couple episodes they mention the whale tanks. Those dolphins must be pretty bored in the tank, I can't imagine it would be very big.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Unfortunatley it is canon, in a couple episodes they mention the whale tanks. Those dolphins must be pretty bored in the tank, I can't imagine it would be very big.

Maybe they're more into the intellectual stuff rather then physical stuff. They may have some sort of suit or something that lets them move around the ship. There's always the holodeck too.

[Teaos]

Anyone speek fluent Dolphine?

[Monroe]

Wow I learn something stupid every day.

[Tsukiyumi]

Anyone speek fluent Dolphine?

No, but I do like blow holes.

[Teaos]

Ak so we have the perverted comment. Anyone wanna bring up canabalisum? Then we'll have a real party.

[Sonic Glitch]

No, but I do like TO blow holes.

word and emphasis added by me.

[Tsukiyumi]

No, but I do like TO blow holes.

word and emphasis added by me.

Either way is fine.

[Sonic Glitch]

No, but I do like TO blow holes.

word and emphasis added by me.

Either way is fine.

I figured it would be

[Captain Picard's Hair]

I've wondered whether there's aquatic intelligent life in the UFP. We had the Aquatic Xindi, and that was way before TNG (in Trek time). If they had ships, they couldn't be the same one people served on, of course.

[mlsnoopy]

What if they run into another whale probe. Than the whales and dolphines can save the ship from destruction.

[Monroe]

What if they run into another whale probe. Than the whales and dolphines can save the ship from destruction.

Dolphins are standard equipment onboard Federation ships now.

[Graham Kennedy]

There's a mirror universe TNG novel which features a dolphin navigation specialist quite prominently. It's a fun idea, he has a forcefield bubble of water that he can travel around the ship in and flooded quarters.

After ST IV it's canonical that humpbacked whales at least are fully sentient beings capable of communication. I don't think it's beyond reason that Gillian was able to use a universal translator to talk to them after their return, especially since Vulcans could meld with the whales and get them to help in the process. Whether the whales would prove to have skills useful to a starship is a bit more dubious, but the idea of them as inherently good navigators does make a certain kind of sense.

I think it's a kind of neat and intriguing idea.

[Teaos]

Bilogically they have big brain but they lack the bit that allows higher thought processes.