A new study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology documents 34 instances where killer whales appeared to offer their prey to humans off the coasts of British Columbia, California, New Zealand, Norway, and Argentina. Researchers, including Jared Towers of Bay Cetology, observed orcas dropping freshly killed prey directly in front of vessels and waiting for a human response before recovering or abandoning the food. The study suggests these rare interactions are not mistakes or solely play, but potentially 'pro-social representations of conscious learning,' where orcas might be practicing cultural behavior or exploring human capacity to interact, aiming to understand 'who we are.'
Orcas might be trying to learn 'who we are' when they share prey with humans, study suggests
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A new study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology documents 34 instances where killer whales appeared to offer their prey to humans off the coasts of British Columbia, California, New Zealand, Norway, and Argentina. Researchers, including Jared Towers of Bay Cetology, observed orcas dropping freshly killed prey directly in front of vessels and waiting for a human response before recovering or abandoning the food. The study suggests these rare interactions are not mistakes or solely play, but potentially 'pro-social representations of conscious learning,' where orcas might be practicing cultural behavior or exploring human capacity to interact, aiming to understand 'who we are.'
- 1 2004-2024: Period during which 'offering' events were documented
- 2 2015: An orca offered a dead ancient murrelet to Towers's boat
- 3 2018: An orca offered a freshly killed seal to Towers's vessel
- 4 Monday (June 30, 2025): Study published
- New insights into killer whale cognitive abilities and social behavior
- Encourages people to look at killer whales differently
- Researchers strongly discourage people from accepting prey due to potential harm to both species
What: Killer whales (orcas) have been observed in rare instances appearing to offer their prey to humans, suggesting a pro-social or learning behavior rather than just play.
When: The study was published on Monday (June 30, 2025). The documented 'offering' events took place between 2004 and 2024. Specific encounters mentioned occurred in 2015 and 2018.
Where: Off the coasts of British Columbia (Vancouver Island, Alert Bay), Alaska, California, New Zealand, central Argentina, and Norway.
Why: Researchers hypothesize that orcas might be practicing cultural behavior, exploring human capacity to respond, or attempting to understand human interaction, rather than simply making mistakes or engaging in play.
How: Researchers documented 34 instances where orcas approached humans directly and dropped prey, waiting for a response. The study analyzed these observations, ruling out simple play based on the nature and duration of the interactions.