@Kaiser-Machead: yeah, that sounds good, because i'm not a contributing member of society or anything like this dolphin.

rb4dv

@SEARCH ENGINES: Just a year or two ago I recall reading a story about some life guards in Australia who were saved by some dolphins. They were taking a training swim when some dolphins approached and basically herded the swimmers into a small group. After a little while the swimmers realized there was a shark in the area and the dolphins were basically protecting them from a potential attack.

IphtashuFitz

I am just that much closer to acheiving my dream of becoming a merman.

Gann

come on guys, different groups specialize in different projects and they receive funding as such. such research in giving a Dolphin a new tail could possibly advance in human prosthetic technology! show me an organization that care for and cure every human, ecological and biological issue on this planet and I'll show you a complete liar! at least someone has the balls to care for Marine wildlife!

ASS!

OG512

@archercc: Something tells me you don't say that when you drop money on an ipod or some other gadget. Ever consider the science that went into attaching this to an animal may one day be used on humans? I think some other species deserve a little help after all we've done anyway.

Denver_80203

@archercc: I guess I should toss my cat out the window and tell my vet to get a real job saving the children. Get bent.

Kaiser-Machead

Is the prosthetic equipped with weapons?

Rabid Penguin

@archercc: Jerk

mrxcel

That is awesome that they can do that but I wonder if they know the human children are still starving to death on this planet.

archercc

@rb4dv: If you ever lose a limb, I'll be sure to push spending of the money that would've been used to restore your mobility on a more worthwhile effort. Satisfied?

Kaiser-Machead

@SEARCH ENGINES: It makes me wonder if there's that one asshole dolphin that would think it was funny to carry the guy out even further.

Kaiser-Machead

@Curves: I agree

utube2007

So long, and thanks for all the fish! And the prosthetics!

scarbrtj

Dolphins are wonderful creatures - they have actually tried to saved Human lives by pulling unconscious sailers ashore

SEARCH ENGINES

@Curves: I'm considering only going to the vet when I get older. They're nicer to patients than regular doctors are :P

Kaiser-Machead

I, for one, welcome our new bionic dolphin overlords.

FrancesTheMute

Good thing there was nothing better in the world to spend money on than making a fake tail for a dolphin.

rb4dv

This kind of story restores my faith in humanity. Well, some of it anyway.

Curves

nice now we need to find a way to attach "frigging lasers"

mrxcel

This is cool and terribly sweet at the same time. Good stuff.

Kaiser-Machead

leave it to the *internets to find something wrong with a great story like this. Can't we just be happy when good shit happens?

kahri

So long and thanks for all the fish

kiwijaws

Animals are part of the environment, part of the earth continuing to function properly. If our man made traps took this animals tail off, then I feel it is our obligation to make it right.
There are many people working on limbs for people too, so please stop complaining, you might just find your heart rate going down a little.

pcs800

@sugardeath: Go shark fishing off the coast of Florida, chances are you'll have a better time swimming with the dolphins than you will getting them to leave you alone...

...well, at least that's how my experience went. Luckily we were able to lose the dolphins and catch a bull shark after about four hours.

GOKOR

@GOKOR: I for one welcome our sensible, in-your-face brand of honesty overlords.

Kaiser-Machead

@FrancesTheMute: fail.

Please, everyone, no more gimmick posts that have been made hundreds of times. They make everyone look stupid.

GOKOR

@mrxcel: How about a robotic exoskeleton in homage to Tony Stark?

Kaiser-Machead

@WilCon: Veterans DO get prosthetics, but the question I have to ask is that why is it that whenever a VETERINARIAN helps an animal with a major injury, some rube from left field wants to make jabs and spew their worldly wisdom about how they should be helping people instead? Another question that comes to mind is, what is YOUR profession that puts you in such a position to make this kind of judgment? Unless you yourself work diligently to save people, what say do you really have in the matter?

Oh Armchair Lords of the Earth, I summon thee to come forth, and politely answer my inquiries.

Kaiser-Machead

Why is there ALWAYS some contradictory asshole who has to put everything down? This is a great story and I am sure that dolphin has a serious loyalty toward humans now, which might come in handy sometime in the future for a drowning child.

pcs800

@WilCon: It's just a baby with no arms. Let it die.

I hate people like you: "Oh it doesn't affect me, who gives a crap, WHERE'S MY NEW CAR!"

sugardeath

What's up with the comments system? It displays my comments just fine on Kotaku, but one of my Lifehacker ones never showed up (did on my profile page, though) and now here... Anyway..

@rb4dv: Did a dolphin bite you as a kid?

@IphtashuFitz: Things like this make me wish I could meet a dolphin just once. Preferably in the wild because I hear they live longer when they're not in captivity (six times as long?). They're totally amazing creatures.

sugardeath

Its a dolphin. Let it die for cripes sake. Maybe we should give a veteran a prosthetic instead of tax dollars saving a dolphin. Maybe we should help "people". I have a new organization to announce "People for the Ethical Treatment of People" it's like PETA but makes sense.

WilCon

@archercc: would you fill the same if it was your pet dog , cat or whatever.

when was the last time you donated to africa

all the money you've probably dropped on gadgets couldn't that have went to africa yes no or maybe or is it when others spend money you want to complain.

how have you helped children in africa ?

utube2007

@rb4dv: Did a dolphin bite you as a kid at SeaWorld or something?

@IphtashuFitz: Dolphins are amazing, I just wish I had the chance to see one in person sometime, in the wild preferably (I hear they live up to six times as long in the wild compared to in captivity?)

sugardeath

@rb4dv: I sincerely doubt it's any contribution that would've made my life any better, so I guess I'll just have to remain indifferent on that one. The money could've been better spent on what? What with all of these people, including yourself, buying superfluous products, with companies spending millions in research and development of non-essential consumer products, surely the money spent on all of these things could've been spent on something more worthwhile.

Kaiser-Machead

@IphtashuFitz:
That's basically how it works. The dolphins gain our trust through acts of kindness, then when we least expect it, our country is overrun by them and they start producing tuna w/ human meat :c(

Rabid Penguin

@OG512:
Wow, evoking the name of Hitler on a thread about Dolphins... You're probably crazier than the crazies you're talking about.

@Munch:
You're crazy.

@OG512:
You're crazier.

Rabid Penguin

I hope that tail is edible... Otherwise it could lead to a MASSIVE tuna recall. Sorry PETA (and Winter)... I'm just saying.

Munch

@kahri: some idoits are like Hitler, Warmongers!

OG512

So I guess all the naysayers object to animal research, because that's basically what this was, except it helped the animal instead of killing it. It's not like we can apply this to say, prosthetics that humans can use for swimming, right? Seriously, if we can justify military research spending by claiming there are humanitarian benefits, I think it's safe to assume animal prosthetics research can help human prosthetics research.

sumocat

@mrxcel:

Not our fault, blame the leaders of those countries. That dolphin loosing its tail wasn't really our fault but it was do to our activities.

mikecoscia

How about we exterminate all the umans, who caused all this misery in the first place?

Monday morning, the day's not half over, and already I feel like killing something.

Guy-Fawkes

maybe he'll start hacking pharmacudical company mainframes or peoples' cybernetic implants. I got 80 gigs in my head man!!!

bageler

God you people are a bunch of fairy twats. I make one statement saying that it is awesome but point out that there are still humans who need help and you dickwats immediately start calling me a jerk and assuming I spend thousands on ipods and dont give shit.

Ive probably given more to philanthropic organizations in the last decade than the average annual income of the idiots calling me a jerk. The only apple product I own is a shuffle my girl gave me as a gift. im actually not a gadget freak (I dont even own a modern TV). Im more of an outdoorsy guy but I work in software/hardware so its nice to have a place to see what interests people.

That is about as far as I am going to go because I am sure you guys will continue with assumptions and flame me for little to no reason other than you have little else to do in your pathetic lives.

archercc

@Kaiser-Machead: "I'm considering only going to the vet when I get older. They're nicer to patients than regular doctors are :P"

If you regularly bit your doctor, I'm sure he'd be nicer to you too.

dantaylor08

This is a lovely story and all but, I just have to know, why is it that the Daily Mail seems to hold a special place in the Giz universe?

Step666

@Kaiser-Machead: "I'm considering only going to the vet when I get older. They're nicer to patients than regular doctors are :P"

Yeah, you say that now. Wait until the vet says, "OK, it's time to take your temperature."

bosskev

@WilCon: Tax dollars? A private, non-profit aquarium that receives no funding from the government is diverting tax dollars that should be spent on veterans? Please explain how that works.

juanelpaso

They didn't mention how the dolphin liked the tail so much that it went out afterwards and got fake dolphin boobs,lol

FiveLiters

@dantaylor08: If he was Marv Albert maybe.

Kaiser-Machead

@archercc: Yes, virtual tool, let it out.

Kaiser-Machead

@Kaiser-Machead: Veterans that are currently injured do. The huge amount of veterans who are homeless, sick and out of work are what I am referring too. My profession was until recently soldier. Now its a support for soldiers in a unit here in the states. I guess that counts.
@sugardeath: I didn't ask for a new car i asked for prosthetics for people who gave you the right to be a moron and to let an animal die that received one for no reason or benefit to mankind. Its very rude to edit a persons comments to say something vulgar and hateful as well.
@juanelpaso: I didn't say they diverted tax dollars. Reading comprehension is a great skill you should try it. Non profit does not mean non government funds by the way. Do you have the financials to back up your claim?

WilCon

@rb4dv, @archercc, @WilCon:
The comments in this thread call to mind a little parable...

One day all of the body parts started an argument as to which body part was the most important and deserving. It started with the Stomach growling, "Well, without me, you'd all starve to death. Clearly I am the most important body part. You would do well to give all your support to me."

Indignantly, the Mouth spoke up, "Oh, sure, you may digest the food, but without me you'd never get the food in the first place. Therefore, I am the most important body part. I deserve all your attention."

Then the Heart jumped in. "Yeah, like it's all about food. Blood is where it's at, and I am the one who pumps it to all of you. You want to stay alive? Treat me well and ignore all those lesser body parts."

And so it went, as each and every body part chimed in as to why it was invaluable to the exclusion of all others. Eventually, the body parts tired from the bickering and fell into a quiet dissatisifaction.

It was in that moment of silence that the Soul spoke up softly, "Everybody, please. You are all unique in the functions you provide AND you are all vitally important. Big or small, NONE of you should be ignored, each of you deserves care and attention. It is how you work TOGETHER that matters."

Slowly, a general feeling of satisfaction began to permeate the entire body, giving each organ a remarkable feeling of warmth and well-being. That is, until the Asshole insisted on dumping all over everybody.

@archercc:
"...and dont give shit."

Oh, but you DO. Clearly, you DO.

bosskev

@archercc:

Why are you on a gadget blog if you don't like gadgets?

And why is your vocabulary limited fairy twats and dick twats and idiots while you rant about your "outdoorsey" tendencies? Why don't you stay there. And go and hunt while on a full stomach at the same time.

LindsayJoy

Leave it to Gizmotians to take a feel good story like this and twist it to "You're a fairy twat" and "You're a douche."

I love Mondays.....everyone is SO positive and happy to be alive.....

Curves

I don't have time to read this thread, but its clear people need banning.

Brian Lam

@archercc: You´re right, so what the hell are you doing, with Internet, a computer, a car...? Instead of buying all of that you should fight hunger.

jabiez

@Brian Lam: Please don't. Life's not worth living if I can't stick around to watch an occasional gadget pantsing.

Kaiser-Machead

@Curves: Is 'fairy twat' an insult? It sounds absolutely glorious.

Munch

@WilCon: "...instead of tax dollars saving a dolphin" implied to me, and to most everyone else reading this thread, I would imagine, that you believe this was a project funded by tax dollars, unless there was another dolphin saved by the tax dollars in the story that I missed. And, as far as I can tell, the Clearwater Aquarium is a non-profit aquarium/rehab facility supported by donations who receives no tax revenue.

That being said, like you, I am a staunch supporter of our veterans and believe that the treatment they receive upon leaving active duty is all too often reprehensible. The advances in medical science to help an increasing number of vets wounded on the battlefield survive are amazing, but the funding for further advancement, particularly in areas surrounding rehabilitation, including prosthetics, comes largely from the private sector.

Advancement in any area of prosthetics, particularly one that is submersible, pliable and has a full range of motion, is something that I hope (and I hope everyone else would, too) would ultimately benefit all amputees, including veterans.

juanelpaso

I'm going to reiterate what OG512 and Denver_80203 said: a LOT of the information we get out of veterinary medical research contributes to human medical therapies. And that IS, in a way, one of the utilities of animals to humans. If it offends you to think that that much money was spent on a dolphin or a bald eagle, just think of them as very large lab rats.

Xenobiologista

@etommy13: Outstanding.

Kaiser-Machead

These dolphins have had it too easy for too long. I am sick of coddling them. Them and the whales. Basically any aquatic mammal. What you're too good to live on the land like the rest of the placental creatures? No one thinks about all the victims of whale violence; Ahab, Jonah, Pinocchio and those are just the ones who didn't really exist. It is high time we start teaching these giants a lesson. Just because you are smarter than us and live in the water doesn't mean that you aren't subject to our senseless violence. I don't know about you but the only question I have about dolphins is where can an angry young man buy a harpoon. Did you know that Orca's are the most widely dispersed spieces of animal in the world. That is right they are in every sea and ocean. They've got us surrounded. I am sick of you dolphin sympathizers and apologizers endangering and undermining my safety by down playing the serious threat we all face from imminent whale attack. I've got a powerful hunger for dolphin meat. Let the war begin. Whose side are you going to be on?

etommy13

@archercc:
You should have left it at saying that it was an awesome story and left it at that. Your 2 cents about how there are still humans who also need help was obvious and irrelevant.

m0isturizer

@Brian Lam: Swing and be true o' bearer!

strider_mt2k

@etommy13: Agreed with Kaiser-Machead, a great post made all the more intriguing by it being your very first post. Welcome to Gizmodo!

* returns to munching on his dolphin-on-a-stick *

bosskev

Thats awesome! Pretty sure, theres no tax dollars involved though.
@rb4dv: Why the dolphin hating? @etommy13: LOL, I choose dolphin

graffiksguru

@Munch: The way "fairy twat" was used, tends to make me think it was intended as an insult. Translated I would guess it to mean "gay pussy". Still does'nt sounds that bad though, does it.

Curves

@archercc: HEY GUYS I'M SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT BECAUSE I SWEAR EVERY 2 SECONDS. MOMMY TELLS ME NOT TO USE THE WORDS BUT SINCE THEY MAKE ME SOUND SO MUCH MORE MATURE I DO IT ANYWAY.

saywha

Why stop at silicone and plastic? Throw in a few motors, and let's get this dolphin up to 40mph.

And lasers (as was already said), obviously.

photophile

@juanelpaso: That sir was en educated response. I accept your position that advancement of any form that could help people is good. Very well said.

WilCon