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Orcas use kelp tools to groom and bond off B.C.’s coast, study suggests

SALISH SEA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, JUN 23 – Critically endangered Southern Resident orcas use kelp pieces as tools to groom and bond, with 30 instances recorded during a 2024 study in the Salish Sea, researchers said.

  • Researchers observed southern resident orcas off the coasts of Washington State and British Columbia using kelp as tools to groom one another during summer 2024.
  • This behavior, named allokelping, was discovered through drone observations after nearly 50 years of studying this critically endangered orca population in the Salish Sea.
  • Orcas snapped ends of bull kelp stalks then rolled the kelp between bodies to massage partners, suggesting social grooming and possible skin exfoliation benefits.
  • The team recorded 30 instances over 12 days between April and July 2024, with Michael Weiss calling the tool use 'incredibly exciting' and unique among marine mammals.
  • This finding highlights the importance of continued monitoring and protecting the orcas and may expand understanding of their complex social behaviors and culture.
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Science broke the news in on Monday, June 23, 2025.
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