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☆ Stunning video shows Antarctic killer whales appearing to use icebergs as scratching posts, possibly to exfoliate their skin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

National Geographic said it captured the first footage of killer whales rubbing up against an iceberg. AdvertisementOrcas living in the freezing waters of Antarctica have been captured in footage rubbing up against icebergs in what could be an innovative skincare technique. AdvertisementLike humans, whales and dolphins typically shed their skin continuously, and most of them have no problem doing this in warmer waters. The study found that some antarctic killer whales make an essentially nonstop, nearly 7,000-mile migration to warmer waters that takes six to eight weeks. While the reasons whales migrate remain a mystery, the study argued the evidence suggests "deferred skin molt could be the main driver of long-distance migration for antarctic killer whales."

Persons: —, Robert Pitman, Pitman, Andrew Trites Organizations: Service, National Geographic, Newsweek, Mammal, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Pacific Northwest, Northern, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: Antarctica, molting, Pacific, British Colombia, Canada, University of British Columbia

☆ Sailors playing heavy metal to scare killer whales may be putting a target on their backs by telling the orcas exactly where to find them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some sailors off the Iberian coast are turning to heavy metal to deter orcas from ramming into their boats. The music will also add to human-made ocean noise, which is already a major issue for marine animals. AdvertisementSailors using heavy metal music to deter orcas from ramming into their boats could find that the strategy backfires. AdvertisementAdditionally, Trites told Business Insider that if sailors adopted this method, the most harmful result would be an addition to noise pollution in the ocean. Human-caused noise pollution comes from a variety of sources, including ships, energy production via wind turbines, underwater mining, and even low-flying planes.

Persons: —, Andrew Trites, Trites Organizations: Service, New York Times, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, NOAA, Sound Locations: University of British Columbia

☆ Stunning video appeared to show 2 humpback whales trying to save a seal from a pod of orcas, but the seal may have been trying to hide behind the gentle giants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

National Geographic captured humpback whales interrupting orcas that were hunting a seal in Antarctica. But then, Gregory said in the video, two humpback whales appeared out of nowhere. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile killer whales do not pose a direct threat to adult humpback whales, which are much larger than orcas, killer whales do prey on humpback whale calves. While most people believe the humpbacks are swimming over to save the seal, the seal may actually be swimming toward the humpbacks to save itself. Sea lions and seals have been captured hopping onto boats in order to evade killer whales.

Persons: Bertie Gregory, Gregory, Leigh Hickmott, Andrew Trites, Trites, Robert Pitman, Pitman Organizations: Geographic, Service, University of St, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, Biologists, US, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Hakai Magazine Locations: Antarctica, Wall, Silicon, Andrews, Scotland, University of British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia

☆ Whales swimming behind fishing vessels catch an easy feast of escaped fish, but experts warn this 'free meal' is risky, potentially lethal behavior
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Sperm and bottlenose whales are known to pursue fishing boats to catch fish that escape the nets. Hal Whitehead, a sperm whale expert and biology professor at Dalhousie University, told Insider. What's even more interesting is that it's not only whales that have learned to catch fish escaping the fishermen's nets. Usua Oyarbide"As time goes on we hear more and more reports of everything from sperm whales to dolphins doing this. "I've known about sperm whales being engaged with different fisheries but I wasn't aware northern Bottlenose whales show similar behavior, so I've learned something new."

Persons: It's, Whales, Usua, Usua Oyarbide, Oyarbide, Hal Whitehead, wasn't, Andrew Trites, Vince Streano, Whitehead, Trites, I've Organizations: Service, Greenland, Dalhousie University, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, International Whaling Commission, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Wall, Silicon, Newfoundland, Greenland, University of British Columbia, Canada, Africa, China, Australia

☆ Gray whales were nicknamed 'devil fish' for fighting back when harpooned by whalers. Now they approach boats and let humans pet them, baffling scientists.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Now gray whales in Baja California frequently interact with humans in a remarkable shift. The video showed a gray whale right beside a boat, allowing the captain to pick whale lice off its head. Still, the fact that the gray whales of the Baja lagoons interact with boats and humans at all baffles researchers. The gray whales then make the longest migration of any mammal, with most traveling more than 10,000 miles to their foraging grounds near Alaska. Hunting gray whales is illegal, with some exceptions for Indigenous peoples in Alaska, Canada, and Mexico.

Persons: Gray, that's, Andrew Trites, Trites, he's, Guillermo Arias, Leigh Torres, Torres, it's Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, Getty, Oregon State, Mammal Institute Locations: Baja California, Wall, Silicon, Ojo, Baja, University of British Columbia, Alaska, Pacific, Canada, Mexico, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Coast, Pacific Northwest, Oregon

☆ Orcas may just be the beginning. Whales and humans are likely to have more strange encounters in the future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Orcas are targeting boats near Spain while gray whales in Baja let humans pet them. "It isn't people running up to whales, it's whales coming to people." The gray whales befriending boats is especially interesting because just decades ago they were hunted to the brink of extinction in those same lagoons. But after conservation measures made whaling illegal, the North Pacific gray whales have dramatically recovered, allowing for these more friendly, social interactions between whales and humans. And it's not just the gray whales.

Persons: Leigh Torres, —, Andrew Trites, Torres Organizations: Service, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: Spain, Baja, Wall, Silicon, Mexico's Baja California, University of British Columbia, Pacific, Atlantic, Portugal

☆ Orcas in general don't pose a threat to humans — but any encounter with a massive, wild animal has its risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Generally speaking, orcas in the wild do not pose a threat to humans. But the boat encounters are still dangerous, and swimming with a massive wild animal can be risky. Generally speaking, killer whales do not pose much of a threat to humans. The Iberian population members targeting boats also do not seem to be interested in humans, Strager noted. However, Strager said it's impossible to draw any conclusions about wild orcas based on the behavior of captive orcas, as they are in such an artificial environment.

Persons: orcas, Hanne Strager, Strager, Andrew Trites, Tilikum, Trites Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, SeaWorld Orlando Locations: Spain, Portugal, Danish, Norway, University of British Columbia, Canada, Florida

☆ Stop calling the killer whale encounters with boats 'attacks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Killer whales near the Iberian Peninsula have been striking boats since 2020. No doubt the encounters feel like attacks to the boaters, but experts say that may not be accurate. But in at least three cases the killer whales have managed to sink sailboats, prompting talk of an "orca uprising" in which the whales were finally fighting back. Despite one theory about a "traumatized" killer whale seeking revenge on boats, Trites and other experts have said they believe the orcas are most likely just playing. They appear to be picking up and mimicking the play behavior of other killer whales, suggesting it is being positively reinforced, or that they are getting pleasure or some sort of benefit from it.

Persons: Andrew Trites, Trites Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: orcas, Spain, Portugal, University of British Columbia, Canada

☆ Killer Whales Targeting Boats Could End Badly for the Orcas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Killer whales near Spain and Portugal have been confronting, and even sinking, boats. The killer whales typically approach the ship from behind and then try to strike the rudder until the boat is immobilized. People online have joked the killer whales are "orcanizing" an "orca rebellion," with many social media users rooting for the whales. But the result could be an increase in fear of killer whales in the popular imagination, similar to what the movie "Jaws" did for sharks. In reality, killer whales — which got their names from hunting other whales — do not pose a significant risk of harm to humans.

Persons: —, Andrew Trites, Trites, Deborah Giles, Evan Brodsky, Luna Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, NBC, Area, Nootka Locations: Spain, Portugal, University of British Columbia, Monterey Bay, Monterey, West, British Columbia, Canada, —

☆ Orca attacks on boats aren't out of revenge, killer whale experts say. They're just having fun.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Erin Heger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"I certainly think orcas are capable of complex emotions," Monika Wieland Shields, director of the Orca Behavior Institute told Insider. And yet, these situations haven't resulted in wild orcas attacking boats, Shields said. Orcas in captivity have attacked and killed humans, but there are no records of orcas killing humans in the wild. The orcas are trying to playAccording to Shields, orcas' natural curiosity and playfulness are likely the cause for these encounters and not revenge. According to Trites, orcas might simply enjoy the sensation of ramming into boats.

Persons: —, they've, Andrew Trites, Sailor Werner Schaufelberger, orcas, Trites, White, Monika Wieland Shields, Suzanne Allee, Magnolia Pictures Shields, Shields, Orcas, that's, Hanne Strager, Strager Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, Orca Behavior Institute, Magnolia Pictures Locations: Spain, Portugal, University of British Columbia, Canada, Blackfish, Washington

☆ Researchers think other orcas are imitating a single killer whale that first started targeting boats, leading some to sink
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Killer whales near the Iberian peninsula are colliding with, and sinking, boats. Researchers think they may be imitating the behavior of a single female named White Gladis. In these encounters, the orcas' behavior generally follows the same pattern: approaching the back of the ship and hitting the rudder until successfully causing the boat to stop. They keep apart," Trites said, noting that orca populations represent different ecotypes that eat different foods and display different behaviors. Or, Trites said, the killer whales might just get bored with the boats and stop taking part.

☆ Killer whales near Spain have sunk 3 sailboats. A lonely orca named Luna who got separated from his family 20 years ago also damaged boats — but scientists say he just wanted to play.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Killer whales near Spain and Portugal have sunk three sailboats in recent years. An orca name Luna that was damaging boats near Vancouver Island in the 2000s just wanted to play. A population of killer whales near Portugal and Spain's Iberian Peninsula first began having "disruptive" interactions with boats in 2020. However, the encounters reminded him of a young male orca named Luna that engaged in similar behavior with boats around 20 years ago. "Being a social animal, he got very lonely and became quite attached to boats," Trites said.

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