Orcas found offering food to humans, raising questions: Is it an attempt at manipulation?

Orcas , also known as killer whales , have just added another surprising behavior to their well-known social intelligence: they've been observed sharing prey with humans. A recent study published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology documented 34 cases in which these marine mammals dropped food in front of people, closely observing their reaction.

The encounters were recorded over two decades in various parts of the world, including California, Norway, New Zealand, and even Patagonia. The orcas offered everything from fish and seabirds to manta rays, seaweed, and, in one extreme case, a turtle.

Researchers claim that this type of behavior is common among orcas, as sharing food is part of their social behavior and a way to strengthen bonds within the group. Curiously, in some cases, they now appear to be trying to establish the same type of relationship with humans.

“In almost every interaction, the orcas watched what the humans did with the food. Sometimes, if there was no response, they would offer it again,” explained Jared Towers , lead author of the study and director of Bay Cetology , a Canadian research institute.

Of the 34 interactions analyzed, 11 occurred while humans were in the water, 21 occurred from boats, and two occurred near the shore. In all cases, the orcas approached of their own volition , without being provoked or fed beforehand.

Scientists propose several hypotheses about this phenomenon: curiosity, play, exploration, or even a way of practicing learned cultural behaviors. It is also possible that these actions are an attempt to manipulate or influence humans, although the purpose is unclear.

"This behavior could be the cetacean equivalent of the gift of prey that some dogs or cats give to their owners," Towers noted. "But in this case, we're talking about wild animals, not domesticated ones."

This study provides a new perspective on the complex cognition of orcas, known for their ability to learn, cooperate, and transmit knowledge across generations. According to the authors, these interactions could be a gateway to new forms of communication and even interspecies bonding.