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MONTHLY NEWS August 1997 Finless Porpoises Teach Themselves Soccer |
Four finless porpoises at the Toba Aquarium in the city of Toba, Mie Prefecture, have taught themselves to play soccer, and they've been showing off their skills to children and adults visiting the aquarium during the summer months.
The four (one male and three females) don't have names yet; they're referred to by numbers--the order in which they arrived at the aquarium. The two females, 75 and 77, get a kick out of "shooting" beach balls with their tail fins and also seem to enjoy lining them up on the edge of the pool. The male, 36, meanwhile, is usually content just dribbling the ball. An aquarium spokesperson said the soccer game became popular around July 1990. No one taught the porpoises how to play; after a ball was released in their pool, they soon developed advanced techniques, like heading, dribbling, and shooting. 
Finless porpoises are closely related to the dolphin, although they're also sometimes called the world's smallest whale. They generally inhabit coastal areas, such as Ise Bay, Seto Inland Sea, and Ariake Sea, in Japan. They're a bit chubbier than the dolphin, though usually a little smaller--growing to about 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) at the maximum. The animal is thought to be sensitive and highly intelligent.
Officials at the aquarium believe that their playful nature and the desire to ease the stress that comes from living in captivity may have inspired the mammals to engage in this sport with so much enthusiasm.
Photos: (Top) A finless porpoise poses for the camera; (above) another porpoise practices its heading. (Toba Aquarium) 
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