They’re generally known as “killer whales,” however orcas have a surprisingly delicate and even beneficiant aspect.
“Orcas often share food with each other—it’s a prosocial activity and a way that they build relationships with each other. That they also share with humans may show their interest in relating to us as well,” mentioned Jared Towers, lead creator of a brand new examine reporting on 34 interactions by which wild orcas tried to supply meals to individuals.
Towers is the manager director of Bay Cetology, a Canada-based group that research cetaceans, a gaggle of marine mammals that features whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Working with researchers in New Zealand and Mexico, his workforce analyzed interactions that they and others had skilled with orcas. Their findings have been just lately printed within the Journal of Comparative Psychology.
To be a part of the examine, the encounters needed to meet strict standards. The whales needed to have made the primary transfer, then dropped their providing of prey in entrance of individuals.
In 33 circumstances, the whales waited to see what occurred subsequent. When the meals providing was turned down at first, seven occasions they tried once more.
The incidents, which occurred over 20 years, occurred in oceans around the globe, from California to New Zealand to Norway and Patagonia.
A number of the encounters have been recorded in movies and pictures, and others have been described to the researchers.
Domesticated animals like cats and canines typically supply meals to people (for instance, a proud feline leaving a mouse or hen on the proprietor’s doorstep). This new examine is among the many first to element such conduct in non-domesticated animals.
Researchers mentioned it stands to motive. Orcas are sensible and social animals that share meals to construct relationships with family and different people. As a result of additionally they are likely to hunt prey that is bigger than themselves, they’re additionally apt to have leftovers.
“Offering items to humans could simultaneously include opportunities for killer whales to practice learned cultural behavior, explore or play and in doing so learn about, manipulate or develop relationships with us,” the researchers wrote.
“Giving the advanced cognitive abilities and social, cooperative nature of this species, we assume that any or all of these explanations for, and outcomes of such behavior are possible,” they added.
Extra info:
Jared R. Towers et al, Testing the waters: Makes an attempt by wild killer whales (Orcinus orca) to provision individuals (Homo sapiens)., Journal of Comparative Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1037/com0000422
Quotation:
Killer whales present a softer aspect, sharing meals with individuals (2025, July 13)
retrieved 13 July 2025
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