You know, I have one thing I want to say, and the thought comes to my mind every time I see people indicate that we are the most intelligent animals on earth.
What determines us to be the most intelligent animals on Earth? Isn't it none other than our own definition of intelligence, and to dive even deeper into it, our own interpretation of ourselves according to said definition?
So, according to a definition created by humans, and an interpretation made by humans, humans are the most intelligent animal on Earth.
Intelligence is nothing but humans own interpretation of things. Who's to say other animals don't think we are stupid as hell for some of the things we do? How many animals completely devastate other animals habitats, with only money in mind, and not seeming to care at all what will happen to the animals? How many animals completely destroy the relationship that has existed that allows animals to balance each other out, and not drive each other into nonexistence? How many other animals have complete all out wars where they blow the shit out of each other over the stupidest of arguments (My religion is the right one, not yours, lets fight!)
No, I'm not some animal freak (or an environment freak, for that matter...I couldn't care less), but humans need to get the fuck over themselves. Any supposed intelligence we have is easily countered by the apparent stupidity that is also in every one of us.
OT: I personally don't think humans are that "valuable", mostly for the reasons above. Yes, I love my family, and would be absolutely devastated to see them leave, but in general, I don't put any more value to Bill Gates than I put to the squirrel running through my backyard.