Study: Orcas Offering Prey to Humans, Appearing to Test Response

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-09-01 01:18:52 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-01 03:44:00

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You might not want to see a killer whale in the wild, but these marine mammals may be even more curious about us humans.

A new study has found that orcas will sometimes offer human divers prey, appearing to test their response. The finding suggests that these creatures are exploring human behaviour and understanding their strength as a potential predator.

Orcas are known to be intelligent animals, possessing the second-highest cognitive empathy of any species after humans. They're also highly social, with complex methods of communication.

One example of this behaviour was captured on film by marine biologist Dr. Ingrid Visser. It shows a live stingray being offered to her underwater, a potentially dangerous move due to stingrays' venomous tails.

Ingrid Visser's research on New Zealand orcas centers around scientifically collecting data on their population, genetics, acoustics, and behaviour. She has been actively studying the population of orcas off the coast of New Zealand for nearly three decades. In a statement, Visser expressed how this finding reflects the complex cognitive abilities of orcas:

"There is no way that you can interpret that kind of behavior other than an orca trying to communicate with a human...It sort of begs the question of why they're doing that, and it's not a behavior that I've seen any other species do."

The exact motivation behind these actions is unclear, but this discovery underscores the need for careful and thoughtful interaction with marine life, including orcas, who are at the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

While orcas may be simply curious or perhaps unintentionally warning humans away from prey, their behaviour shows a surprising awareness of humans' significance as predators.

It's a reminder of the profound intelligence and complex emotions that these creatures possess, deserving of our respect and conservation efforts.

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