Orcas ask humans to lunch, share massages

||| FROM DIVERNET.COM |||

More than 30 cases of wild killer whales attempting to share their prey with human beings are the subject of a study published today (30 June). The incidents, spread over four oceans, have been documented over two decades and involved the orcas offering people a range of freshly acquired fish, mammals and invertebrates.

The orcas would approach people, drop the item and wait for a response, according to the scientists who have witnessed this behaviour for themselves – and spent time trying to explain it.

They have concluded that the orcas were taking opportunities to practice learned cultural behaviour, explore or play in an attempt to learn about, and potentially develop, relationships with people.

“Orca are very social and we frequently see them food-sharing,” said the study’s second author Dr Ingrid Visser. “To document and describe behaviour of them attempting to food-share with humans in various places around the globe is fascinating.”

“Orcas are apex predators that often eat other large mammals, but when it comes to people, they occasionally prefer to share, indicating their interest in building relationships outside their own species,” added third author Vanessa Prigollini.

They have concluded that the orcas were taking opportunities to practice learned cultural behaviour, explore or play in an attempt to learn about, and potentially develop, relationships with people.

“Orca are very social and we frequently see them food-sharing,” said the study’s second author Dr Ingrid Visser. “To document and describe behaviour of them attempting to food-share with humans in various places around the globe is fascinating.”

“Orcas are apex predators that often eat other large mammals, but when it comes to people, they occasionally prefer to share, indicating their interest in building relationships outside their own species,” added third author Vanessa Prigollini.

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