Killer whales to invite humans for lunch
A killer whale (orca) appears to offer its prey to a human. Killer whales appear to be inviting humans for lunch, a new study suggests. The research investigated unusual occurrences of orcas in four oceans attempting to share prey with people. More than 30 cases were documented over two decades where the wild orcas offered people a range of freshly acquired fishes, mammals, and even invertebrates. The whales approached people, dropped the item, and awaited a response. The authors conclude that these cases provide opportunities for orcas to practise learned cultural behaviour, explore or play, and in so doing learn about and potentially develop relationships with people. Having witnessed these events themselves, the authors also provide some ideas about how this behaviour might have evolved and the implications of such interactions.
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