M. Weiss, et al. ROYAL SOCIETY (2021)
When you think about killer whales, “good friends” might not be the first description that comes to mind.
But a new study puts a wrinkle in the orca’s fearsome reputation. Stunning drone footage shows the marine mammals forming close friendships with other members of their pod.
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Scientists have studied killer whales’ social behavior before, but there’s always been one major barrier: Killer whales live underwater and scientists, generally, do not.
M. Weiss, et al. ROYAL SOCIETY (2021)
That’s why drones played a central role in a new study led by the University of Exeter and the Center for Whale Research.
Rather than record whales only when they surface, the scientists could peer underwater. "Looking down into the water from a drone allowed us to see details such as contact between individual whales,” the team reports.
The footage shows that within already tight-knit pods, whales single out specific individuals to spend time with.
M. Weiss, et al. ROYAL SOCIETY (2021)
Signs of friendship among killer whales include physical contact and surfacing together. Touch and coordinated behavior are common signs of social ties among animals.
The researchers note that orca social behavior is similar to many other mammals, including humans.
lindsay_imagery/E+/Getty Images
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