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

  • 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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It is the first time that marine mammals have been found to “make and use tools”.

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Good better beast: Orcas rub each other's bodies with stalks of kelp, a seaweed. It's a social behavior that's similar to fleas. A ticklish spot where you…

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Science broke the news in on Monday, June 23, 2025.
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