SUPERHERO DOLPHINS convinced four lucky humans that these marine creatures can be the best protection in the sea. New Zealand lifeguard Rob Howes, his daughter Nicky, and two friends were swimming in the ocean. Suddenly a family of bottlenose dolphins surrounded the swimmers. “The dolphins were going ballistic,” said Howes. They were slapping the water with their tails. Then Howes saw big trouble just six feet (1.83 meters) away—a ten-foot- (three-meter-) long great white shark.

Too far from shore to outswim the predator if it attacked, Howes feared for the lives of the girls and himself. Gratefully, he realized that the dolphins’ behavior was protecting them. The pod stayed with the swimmers for 40 minutes until it was clear that the danger had passed and the swimmers could make it to shore.

Some people say dolphins are extremely intelligent. Others think these warm-blooded animals are no smarter than dogs or cats. Measuring dolphin intelligence is difficult, since dolphins use their big brains in a much different way than humans do. Some ways they show their smarts include learning tricks quickly and using sound and body language to “speak” to each other. They also play together, something only brainy animals do.

Howes obviously thinks dolphins are cool. Here are ten reasons why other people think so, too.

FACT 1 >>