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Testing the Waters: New Study Finds Rise in Orca Inviting Humans to Share Their Lunch
- A June 30 study in the Journal of Comparative Psychology reports 34 instances of wild orcas offering food and engaging in 'kisses' lasting up to 26 seconds.
- Analysis of sightings from 2002 to 2023 shows orca visits increased from 26 to 48 days, driven by melting Arctic sea ice expanding their habitat.
- Analysis confirms over 30 documented cases of wild orcas offering food and engaging in 'kisses' lasting up to 26 seconds, indicating rare prosocial behaviors.
- Researchers warn against encouraging wild orca interactions, citing safety risks and Inuit communities' reliance on Arctic marine mammals amid climate-driven habitat changes.
- More broadly, a 20-year study links receding Arctic ice and increased orca presence, emphasizing urgent climate action to reverse pollution and protect ecosystems worldwide.
34 Articles
34 Articles
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…
Scientists make worrying discovery after studying killer whale behavior: 'Such shifts highlight potential implications'
Melting Arctic ice has grave implications for the planet. It means rising sea levels and helps lock in higher temperatures — and it also has a dramatic effect on the marine life that has evolved to rely on an icy northern climate. Researchers examining 20 years of data on orca sightings have discovered a worrying trend linked to the receding ice, according to a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. What's happening? Every year, off the…
In the waters of the world, a handful of wild whales have starred in a series of encounters that challenge our understanding of animal life: they have offered prey and objects to human beings, as if seeking to initiate a dialogue between species. A recent international study documents these episodes and asks: what motivates these marine giants to share with us?
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