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The Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Drone footage reveals orcas making tools from kelp to groom each other
Orcas, also known as killer whales, have been documented using an ingenious method to groom one another, a new study reveals, by detaching sections of seaweed to provide a communal back scratch. Researchers observed the marine mammals biting off the end of a kelp stalk, positioning it between themselves and a companion, and then rolling the seaweed between their bodies for extended periods. This unique behaviour, akin to a shared massage, highlights the complex social dynamics of these apex predators. The intriguing findings were detailed in a study led by the Centre for Whale Research (CWR), in collaboration with the University of Exete. The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, is entitled: 'Wild killer whales manufacture and use allogrooming tools.' Scientists spotted the behaviour in drone footage of southern resident orcas in the Salish Sea, in the inland waters of the US state of Washington. Whales of all ages were seen partaking in the tool-making, possibly to strengthen social bonds and promote skin health, researchers suggested. CWR research director Dr Michael Weiss said researchers were 'amazed' when they first noticed the behaviour. Several whale species are known to engage in 'kelping' – moving kelp with their heads, fins and bodies – likely for play, or possibly to remove parasites and maintain healthy skin. The new discovery, dubbed 'allokelping', is different because the kelp is selected, trimmed and manipulated by two whales working together. Dr Weiss added: 'Bull kelp stalk is firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface. I suspect these features make it an ideal grooming tool. 'What I find remarkable about this behaviour is just how widespread it is in the population. 'Males and females of all life stages and from all three southern resident pods were seen using kelp in this way. All evidence points to it being an important part of their social lives.' The team observed allokelping on eight out of 12 days included in the study and based on their observations, suspect that this behaviour may be universal in this population. Whales were most likely to pair up to allokelp with close maternal relatives, and those of similar age. Rachel John, a masters student studying animal behaviour at the University of Exeter, said: 'This population of whales has been formally studied for 50 years – the best-studied orcas on the planet – and yet major new discoveries can still be made. 'We hadn't noticed 'allokelping' before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren't of high enough quality, but the footage we're getting now shows this behaviour in great detail.' Commenting on the possible reasons for allokelping, Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, said: 'We know touch is really important. 'In primates – including humans – touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships. 'We know killer whales often make contact with other members of their group – touching with their bodies and fins – but using kelp like this might enhance this experience. 'It might also be important for skin health. Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose. 'Brown algaes like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide further benefits to the whales.' Professor Croft said researchers were working to confirm the initial findings and 'investigate the social and skin health benefits of this behaviour'. Other orcas are known to rub their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin and parasites, but the southern resident whales have not been seen doing this. Funders of the study included the UK Natural Environment Research Council and the Orca Fund, a grant making fund created by Wild Fish Conservancy and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Science
- Telegraph
Watch: Orcas use seaweed tools to scratch each other's backs
Killer whales have been filmed fashioning seaweed sticks to scratch each other's backs in the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals. Scientists spotted the behaviour in drone footage of orcas swimming in the Salish Sea, off the coast of Washington state in the US. The orcas were seen to bite off the end of a kelp stalk, position it between themselves and a partner and roll the kelp between their bodies for prolonged periods. Dr Michael Weiss, of the Centre for Whale Research (CWR), said: 'We were amazed when we first noticed this behaviour.' He added: 'The more observations we had, the more we realised they weren't just finding these pieces of kelp in the environment and grabbing them, they were actually fashioning these tools or these tools from complete kelp stalks.' Whales are known to play with seaweed and are often seen draping it over their backs or wearing it as hats in a process called 'kelping'. But this discovery is different because the kelp is deliberately selected, torn off and manipulated by two whales working together. Researchers have called the new behaviour 'allokelping', which means 'kelping with another'. The pieces of kelp the orcas use are around two feet long. The Salish Sea whales have been studied since the 1970s, and their habits were thought to be well known. But new drone technology has allowed researchers to observe behaviour that they believe may have been happening for decades without being seen. 'Happening all the time' Rachel John, a Master's student studying animal behaviour at the University of Exeter, said: 'We hadn't noticed 'allokelping' before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren't of high enough quality, but the footage we're getting now shows this behaviour in great detail. 'I was watching one of those really close-up videos when I saw something that looked like a brown stick between two whales that were in contact with each other. We looked back at lots of videos and realised that rubbing kelp between their bodies wasn't just a one-off thing – it was happening all the time. 'And once we saw whales breaking off pieces of kelp intentionally, it became clear that this is not just play – this is something important in the social lives of the 'southern resident' killer whales.' Over a 12-day study period, the whales performed 'allokelping' on eight of the days and were more likely to carry out the practice on closely related whales or similarly aged partners, leading experts to suggest that it may be a form of grooming. Bull kelp stalk is firm and flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface, which experts said made an ideal grooming tool. The team also saw some evidence that whales with more moulting or dead skin were more likely to take part in 'allokelping', suggesting that it may also serve as a hygienic function. Important for skin health Prof Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, said: 'We know touch is really important. In primates – including humans – touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships. ' Killer whales often make contact with other members of their group, touching with their bodies and fins, but using kelp like this might enhance this experience. It might also be important for skin health. 'Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose. 'Brown algae like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide further benefits to the whales.' Other killer whale pods have been spotted rubbing their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin and parasites. However, the Salish Sea whales have not been seen doing this, suggesting that the kelp may offer an alternative solution. The researchers said it was unclear whether the grooming behaviour was entirely unique to this population or more widespread among other whale populations and species. The study was published in the journal Current Biology.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Orcas use seaweed to help scratch each other's backs
Isn't it annoying when you've got an itch on your back that you just can't reach? Well orcas have found a way around that according to researchers. Scientists at the Centre for Whale Research (CWR) and the University of Exeter have observed the marine mammals making seaweed tools to massage and scratch each other's backs with. Dr Michael Weiss from CWR said they were "amazed" when they first noticed the the population of whales has been studied for 50 years, it's the first time the behaviour - called allokelping - has been observed as the cameras haven't been able to record in as high a quality before to see it. Allokelping involves the orcas detaching lengths of seaweed called kelp and biting off the end of it. Dr Weiss describes kelp as "firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface" adding "I suspect these features make it an ideal grooming tool."Once they've shaped it into a tool, they will put it between themselves and another orca and start massaging each other with behaviour was filmed by drones off in the Salish Sea, in the inland waters of Washington in the US. There are whale species where 'kelping' has already been observed. This is where whales move among the seaweed and sometimes wear it like a hat to keep their skin healthy. But allokelping is different because the kelp is specifically shaped by two whales working together. The behvaiour was seen in both males and females of all ages, although they were most likely to pair up with close relatives of their mothers or those of a similar age. Professor Darren Croft from the University of Exeter said: "We know touch is really important."In primates - including humans - touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships."We know killer whales often make contact with other members of their group - touching with their bodies and fins - but using kelp like this might enhance this experience."It might also be important for skin health. Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Orcas observed making seaweed tools ‘to massage each other'
Orcas, also known as killer whales, have been documented using lengths of seaweed to scratch each other's backs, a new study suggests. Researchers observed the marine mammals detaching sections of kelp and then using them to massage their companions. The process involves an orca biting off the end of a kelp stalk, positioning it between themselves and a partner, and then rolling the seaweed between their bodies for extended periods. This intriguing behaviour was detailed in a study led by the Centre for Whale Research (CWR), in collaboration with the University of Exeter. The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, is entitled: 'Wild killer whales manufacture and use allogrooming tools.' Scientists spotted the behaviour in drone footage of southern resident orcas in the Salish Sea, in the inland waters of the US state of Washington. Whales of all ages were seen partaking in the tool-making, possibly to strengthen social bonds and promote skin health, researchers suggested. CWR research director Dr Michael Weiss said researchers were 'amazed' when they first noticed the behaviour. Several whale species are known to engage in 'kelping' – moving kelp with their heads, fins and bodies – likely for play, or possibly to remove parasites and maintain healthy skin. The new discovery, dubbed 'allokelping', is different because the kelp is selected, trimmed and manipulated by two whales working together. Dr Weiss added: 'Bull kelp stalk is firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface. I suspect these features make it an ideal grooming tool. 'What I find remarkable about this behaviour is just how widespread it is in the population. 'Males and females of all life stages and from all three southern resident pods were seen using kelp in this way. All evidence points to it being an important part of their social lives.' The team observed allokelping on eight out of 12 days included in the study and based on their observations, suspect that this behaviour may be universal in this population. Whales were most likely to pair up to allokelp with close maternal relatives, and those of similar age. Rachel John, a masters student studying animal behaviour at the University of Exeter, said: 'This population of whales has been formally studied for 50 years – the best-studied orcas on the planet – and yet major new discoveries can still be made. 'We hadn't noticed 'allokelping' before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren't of high enough quality, but the footage we're getting now shows this behaviour in great detail.' Commenting on the possible reasons for allokelping, Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, said: 'We know touch is really important. 'In primates – including humans – touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships. 'We know killer whales often make contact with other members of their group – touching with their bodies and fins – but using kelp like this might enhance this experience. 'It might also be important for skin health. Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose. 'Brown algaes like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide further benefits to the whales.' Professor Croft said researchers were working to confirm the initial findings and 'investigate the social and skin health benefits of this behaviour'. Other orcas are known to rub their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin and parasites, but the southern resident whales have not been seen doing this. Funders of the study included the UK Natural Environment Research Council and the Orca Fund, a grant making fund created by Wild Fish Conservancy and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Watch: Scientists discover Orcas using seaweed for surprising behaviour in drone footage
Orcas, also known as killer whales, have been observed creating seaweed tools in order to massage each other, a study suggests. In a routine researchers are calling allokelping, orcas bite off a length of kelp, then position it between themselves and a partner before rolling the seaweed between their bodies. Scientists suggest this strengthens social bonds and promotes skin health. The strange ritual was documented in drone footage of southern resident orcas from the inland waters of the US state of Washington, for a study led by the Centre for Whale Research (CWR) in collaboration with the University of Exeter.
