Latest news with #DiscoverAnimals
7NEWS
15 hours ago
- Science
- 7NEWS
Whales and dolphins' friendships caught on camera
New research suggests dolphins and whales may have playful relationships far more often than we thought. Griffith University scientists analysed 199 videos and photos of interactions between baleen whales and dolphins around the world, many captured by drones, tourists, and citizen scientists shared online. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Whales and dolphins caught playing Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today In many clips, dolphins were seen bow-riding, rubbing against the whales, and even diving with them to the ocean floor. Some encounters resembled courtship or play, while a few whales appeared irritated, especially during feeding. But in a third of the interactions, whales — particularly humpbacks — responded with what researchers called 'positive social behaviours.' 'We found that in a third of the interactions, particularly with humpback whales, the behaviour could be described as positive — rolling, belly presentation and slow, gentle movements,' said lead researcher Dr Olaf Meynecke. In most cases, dolphins initiated the contact, often approaching the whales' heads and appearing to seek eye contact. New research has found dolphin and whale friendships may be more common and more complex than we thought. Credit: 7NEWS Dr Olaf Meynecke is leading the study of the Griffith University analysing drone footage including of tourist shared on social media. Credit: 7NEWS 'The predominant dolphin position was near the whale's rostrum (the head) where 80 per cent of the interactions took place,' the paper reports. Some dolphins were even seen touching or being lifted by whales suggesting the behaviour wasn't just incidental. Still, not every encounter was friendly. The study observed defensive actions by whales, including tail slaps and surface trumpeting, especially during moments of feeding or competition. The team gathered social media footage spanning two decades, calling it an 'invaluable' tool for tracking rare marine behaviour in the wild. Especially humpbacks seemed to enjoy the attention of the dolphins, often rolling, showing their bellies and gently approaching the dolphins, a study showed. Credit: 7NEWS In many cases, dolphins were seen bow-riding and rubbing up against the whales, even diving with them to the ocean floor. Credit: 7NEWS 'Social media can help fill knowledge gaps traditional research may miss,' the paper noted. However, researchers stressed caution when interpreting marine mammal intent. The study, published in Discover Animals, offers a rare glimpse into the complex social lives of whales and dolphins hinting at a world of interspecies friendship, play, and cooperation yet to be fully understood.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Whales And Dolphins Frequently Hang Out With Each Other: Study
South East Queensland: As the annual humpback whale migration is underway with thousands of whales passing by the Australian coast, there are reports of dolphins joining the mass movement. But this isn't a one off. In fact, our new study, published today in Discover Animals, shows interspecies interactions between dolphins and whales are widespread and frequent around the world. An astonishing interaction There have been several reports of whale and dolphin interaction in the past. One that astonished the public back in 2004 featured a humpback whale in Hawaii repeatedly lifting a bottlenose dolphin on its head. Researchers suggested such close contact between whales and dolphins is likely very rare - and maybe related to care giving. But other forms of interactions resembling joint feeding, play and harassment are now being frequently documented thanks to drone technology. Many are also featured on social media. A 'whale's-eye view' of the world For our new study, we undertook an analysis of 199 independent whale-dolphin interaction events involving 19 different species. These interactions spanned two decades and occurred across 17 countries. We drew from social media platforms - such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram - and footage contributed by citizens to get a variety of observations. Each entry was carefully reviewed to identify the species involved, validate the interaction and categorise behaviours. Two additional cases came from camera tags attached to humpback whales. These offered an underwater "whale's-eye view" of their encounters with dolphins. We categorised behaviours such as rolling, tail slaps, bow riding, and rubbing, and classified dolphin positions relative to whale body parts such as head, flank and tail fluke. Having fun or fighting? The study contradicted earlier assumptions that interspecies interactions between dolphins and whales are very rare. The most common interaction was dolphins swimming near the whale's head (akin to bow riding). This accounted for 80% of observed dolphin positions. Humpback whales were the most involved whale species, while bottlenose dolphins led the dolphin side. Based on videos we analysed, dolphins initiated most interactions through bow riding, swimming in formation, or even touching whales. In more than one-quarter of the events, the whales responded in seemingly similar ways. For example, humpback whales often rolled, exposed their bellies, or gently turned toward dolphins. Tail slaps and other signs of distress or aggression were rare (roughly 5% of cases). As a result of this, we classified more than one-third of all interactions between humpback whales and dolphins as positive or possible social play. The two camera-tag videos revealed previously undocumented interaction. Dolphins were observed following humpback whales not only at the surface but down to the ocean floor. They maintained eye contact or even touched the whales' head - suggesting intentional, possibly social, engagement. Reflecting advanced emotional capabilities The findings reshape our understanding of how social marine mammals interact across species. They suggest interspecies interaction among marine mammals may be far more prevalent and complex than previously believed. Dolphins may seek out whales as companions for stimulation, play or even courtship-like behaviour. Meanwhile, certain whale species, particularly humpback whales, may not only tolerate but also engage with dolphins in a social capacity. This interspecies dynamic adds a new dimension to marine mammal social ecology and could point to cultural elements in whale and dolphin societies. The playfulness, cooperation and apparent enjoyment observed in many interactions reflect advanced cognitive and emotional capabilities. The study also demonstrates the power of new technologies and community science. Social media and drones proved invaluable for collecting a range of diverse behavioural data that traditional surveys might miss. Social media data has limitations, such as geographic and observer bias caused by different angles, heights, equipment and frequency of use of social media. But it does complement other data and helps uncover previously unknown behaviours. Whales and dolphins don't just coexist but also seek each other out. Future studies incorporating acoustic recordings and longer observation periods could further unravel the motivations and meanings behind these fascinating encounters. (Author: Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science and Manager Whales & Climate Program, Griffith University) (Disclaimer Statement: Olaf Meynecke receives funding from the Whales and Climate Research Program through a private, charitable trust and is a board member of the not for profit organisation Humpbacks and Highrises Inc.) This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
News18
a day ago
- Science
- News18
Whales and dolphins regularly hang out with each other
Last Updated: South East Queensland, Aug 12 (The Conversation) As the annual humpback whale migration is underway with thousands of whales passing by the Australian coast, there are reports of dolphins joining the mass movement. But this isn't a one off. In fact, our new study, published today in Discover Animals, shows interspecies interactions between dolphins and whales are widespread and frequent around the world. An astonishing interaction There have been several reports of whale and dolphin interaction in the past. One that astonished the public back in 2004 featured a humpback whale in Hawaii repeatedly lifting a bottlenose dolphin on its head. Researchers suggested such close contact between whales and dolphins is likely very rare – and maybe related to care giving. But other forms of interactions resembling joint feeding, play and harassment are now being frequently documented thanks to drone technology. Many are also featured on social media. A 'whale's-eye view' of the world For our new study, we undertook an analysis of 199 independent whale-dolphin interaction events involving 19 different species. These interactions spanned two decades and occurred across 17 countries. We drew from social media platforms – such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram – and footage contributed by citizens to get a variety of observations. Each entry was carefully reviewed to identify the species involved, validate the interaction and categorise behaviours. Two additional cases came from camera tags attached to humpback whales. These offered an underwater 'whale's-eye view" of their encounters with dolphins. We categorised behaviours such as rolling, tail slaps, bow riding, and rubbing, and classified dolphin positions relative to whale body parts such as head, flank and tail fluke. Having fun or fighting? The study contradicted earlier assumptions that interspecies interactions between dolphins and whales are very rare. The most common interaction was dolphins swimming near the whale's head (akin to bow riding). This accounted for 80 per cent of observed dolphin positions. Humpback whales were the most involved whale species, while bottlenose dolphins led the dolphin side. Based on videos we analysed, dolphins initiated most interactions through bow riding, swimming in formation, or even touching whales. In more than one-quarter of the events, the whales responded in seemingly similar ways. For example, humpback whales often rolled, exposed their bellies, or gently turned toward dolphins. Tail slaps and other signs of distress or aggression were rare (roughly 5 per cent of cases). As a result of this, we classified more than one-third of all interactions between humpback whales and dolphins as positive or possible social play. The two camera-tag videos revealed previously undocumented interaction. Dolphins were observed following humpback whales not only at the surface but down to the ocean floor. They maintained eye contact or even touched the whales' head – suggesting intentional, possibly social, engagement. Reflecting advanced emotional capabilities The findings reshape our understanding of how social marine mammals interact across species. They suggest interspecies interaction among marine mammals may be far more prevalent and complex than previously believed. Dolphins may seek out whales as companions for stimulation, play or even courtship-like behaviour. Meanwhile, certain whale species, particularly humpback whales, may not only tolerate but also engage with dolphins in a social capacity. This interspecies dynamic adds a new dimension to marine mammal social ecology and could point to cultural elements in whale and dolphin societies. The playfulness, cooperation and apparent enjoyment observed in many interactions reflect advanced cognitive and emotional capabilities. The study also demonstrates the power of new technologies and community science. Social media and drones proved invaluable for collecting a range of diverse behavioural data that traditional surveys might miss. Social media data has limitations, such as geographic and observer bias caused by different angles, heights, equipment and frequency of use of social media. But it does complement other data and helps uncover previously unknown behaviours. Whales and dolphins don't just coexist but also seek each other out. Future studies incorporating acoustic recordings and longer observation periods could further unravel the motivations and meanings behind these fascinating encounters. (The Conversation) GRS GRS view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
National Geographic
a day ago
- Science
- National Geographic
What do dolphins and whales think of each other? Scientists have new evidence.
As the humpback whales soar along at the surface just off the coast of Australia, tiny splashes ahead indicate that they're not alone. A pod of bottlenose dolphins darts along at the front of the group. This scene captured by a 'crittercam' attached to one of the whales is just one example of baleen whales and dolphins interacting with each other in the wild—and it might be much more common than scientists realized. After analyzing videos and photos of 199 instances of whale-dolphin interactions between 19 species around the world, researchers found that a quarter of all the whale-dolphin encounters could be 'a possible positive interaction,' according to a study published today in the journal Discover Animals. It's unclear exactly how aware the animals are of each other or whether these are signs of playfulness—or just vibes. The team scoured social media for imagery of contact between the two cetaceans in oceans around the world, plus two videos captured by the crittercams. In 80 percent of the encounters, the dolphins swam close to the whales' heads, suggesting a mutual awareness or even that the dolphins might be trying to attract the whales' attention, says Olaf Meynecke, a co-author on the study who leads the whales and climate program at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. In a handful of examples, the dolphins appeared to rub or touch the whale on purpose. The animals' close proximity 'would indicate that they are seeking either direct contact, or at least visual contact,' he says. In several instances, the dolphins went bow riding—saving energy by surfing the wave created in front of the swimming whale—near the whale's head, or rostrum, in the same way they often do with boats. 'Were dolphins close to the rostrum because they were enjoying a fast ride, or was it actually to seek contact with the whales?' Meynecke wonders. Dolphins are often observed frolicking around whales but such behavior has 'historically been looked at as the dolphins playing with this big thing in the ocean,' says Thea Taylor, managing director of the Sussex Dolphin Project in England who wasn't involved in the study, 'but there hasn't been much record of the whales interacting and playing back.' Researches analyzed nearly 200 videos and photos of of whale-dolphin interactions between 19 species around the world. Photograph By Jaimen Hudson When Meynecke and his colleagues analyzed the footage closely, they realized that some whales seemed to respond. Do whales seek out dolphins? Based on the documented behaviors, some whale species seem to reciprocate the dolphins' friendly approaches more than others. Humpback whales in particular—believed to have an affinity for other species because they sometimes intervene when orcas attack whales, seals, and even sunfish—were more amenable to the association. Out of all documented hangouts with humpbacks, 'at least one third of the interactions we classified as positive, with the humpback whales actually seeking out swimming towards the dolphins,' says Meynecke. Humpbacks rolled from side to side and showed their bellies, which is often associated with socializing or courtship, as well as extending their pectoral fins towards the dolphins. Meanwhile, Gray whales rolled, which is seen during courtship as well as when these curious animals try to get a better look at a tourist boat. Southern right whales slapped the water with their pectoral fins—also associated with communication and social interaction. 'It's really interesting to see that back-and-forth play, rather than it just being one directional,' says Taylor. (Read more about the hidden world of whale culture.) In two baffling instances, humpback whales lifted a bottlenose dolphin up on its rostrum. Taylor didn't know what to make of this but didn't see it as an aggressive action. 'They're normally more vigorous movements like tail slaps or head slaps.' Some baleen whale species appear to be more prone to interactions with dolphins than others. Photograph By Wildlive Media Contact between cetaceans isn't always positive. In England, researchers have recorded dolphins killing porpoises before abandoning the carcass—scientists don't know why but, as they're not eating the meat, it might just be fun. 'That's a slightly darker side of what could be play,' she says. Some species documented by the study were less impressed by the dolphins than affable humpbacks—fin, blue and northern right whales showed little to no reaction. (Whales could one day be heard in court—and in their own words.) The importance of play As well as being fun, play is important for cognitive and social development. 'Dolphins are heavily reliant on their social networks for foraging, hunting, and breeding,' says Taylor. 'Just like in humans, play is a fantastic way of reinforcing their social bonds.' Understanding whether distinct species seek each other out for play helps experts better understand their distribution, which could better inform conservation efforts and bolster public support for protection measures. It's a strategy that's worked in the past. Before 1970, most people had no idea that whales could sing. When a marine biologist released an album of these haunting melodies and people heard whale song for the first time, it transformed how connected they felt to these huge mammals. 'Understanding that cetaceans play, just like we do, can inspire a similar emotional bond,' says Taylor.
The Age
2 days ago
- Science
- The Age
Revealed: How playful whales and dolphins socialise with each other
Rolling from side to side, presenting their bellies, and even lifting their dolphin playmate into the air are some of the ways that whales socialise with their smaller cousins, a new study finds. The Australian research looking at images and video from 17 locations around the world challenges previous scientific assumptions that dolphins 'harassed' whales, finding instead that the play was often mutual. Griffith University whales and climate program lead Dr Olaf Meynecke and co-author Olivia Crawley analysed nearly 200 separate and unrelated interactions between 425 baleen whales and 1570 dolphins. Their findings were published in the journal, Discover Animals, on Tuesday. 'When we go out and do our whale surveys or tagging whales, we always joke that we can find the whales by looking for the dolphins,' Meynecke said. 'Whales that show a lot of active behaviours seem to get the most interest from the dolphins.' Meynecke said the dolphins, being faster swimmers, usually initiated the encounters, but the whales responded either positively or neutrally most of the time. Across all whale species, at least a quarter of the interactions were mutual, and for humpback whales it was at least a third. It was rare that the whale would try to avoid the dolphin or become aggressive. Most of the documented interactions were between adult animals, but a whale calf was present in 44 events and a dolphin calf in 53 events. Both whale and dolphin calves were present on 21 occasions. There were six different whale species in the dataset – more than two-thirds were humpbacks, followed by grey whales (16 per cent) and fin whales (7 per cent). More than half the dolphins were bottlenose, followed by common dolphins (17 per cent) and Pacific wide-sided dolphins (15 per cent).
