US EditionTesting the Waters: New Study Finds Rise in Orca Inviting Humans to Share Their Lunch
- Researchers published on June 30 a study documenting over 34 instances where wild orcas offered food to humans across four oceans in the past two decades.
- The study analyzed killer whale sightings from 2002 to 2023, linking increased orca presence to melting Arctic ice and expanding open-water habitat.
- Orcas paused and watched human responses before offering food without expecting rewards, behaviors possibly reflecting generalized altruism and interspecific reciprocity.
- Lead author Jared Towers noted that these instances suggest a tendency toward cooperative behavior across species, reflecting a form of generalized reciprocity that is rare among non-human animals and points to an evolutionary similarity with humans.
- The findings suggest ecological and cultural relevance, especially for Inuit communities reliant on Arctic marine mammals, while researchers advise against encouraging such interactions.
38 Articles
38 Articles
It is a common practice among dogs and cats: to leave 'gifts' to humans, sometimes food.But now, science has observed the same attitude in some cetaceans: the orcas.In the study, published on Monday, June 30 in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, researchers have documented dozens of cases of orcas throwing prey and other marine animals in front of humans.In almost all documented encounters, the orcas waited to see what humans were doing with…
Wild Orcas Offer Food to Humans, Leaving Scientists Puzzled
A study found wild orcas have occasionally offered food to humans in different encounters. Credit: Robert Pittman / Public domain Wild orcas, also known as Killer whales, have been spotted offering food to humans in unusual interactions recorded over the past 20 years, according to a new study that has scientists searching for answers. The findings, published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, describe 34 confirmed cases where orcas volun…
Wild Killer Whales Keep Trying to Feed Humans—But Why?
Imagine you’re leaning over the side of a boat when a killer whale surfaces and drops a dead seal in front of you. Then it just floats there, watching. Scientists say this strange behavior is happening more often than you’d think. A new study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology found that wild orcas have offered food to humans at least 34 times in the last two decades. These encounters took place across four oceans and included gi…
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