Orca whales are known as some of the smartest and most famous marine creatures in the world. They are massive—reaching up to 9 meters in length—and live in tightly bonded groups, much like families. Their unusual behaviors have long fascinated scientists, with some even describing them as beings that “possess their own culture.” But how has climate change affected them?
Attacks on boats
In the Strait of Gibraltar, groups of killer whales have sparked widespread debate in recent years after they began ramming small boats and tearing off their rudders. Explanations vary — some researchers suggest it’s merely a “game” or a passing “trend” among young orcas that quickly spread through the rest of the pod, according to the climate and environment platform Earth.
Fish Hats
الأكثر قراءة
In an even stranger scene, orcas have been spotted in Washington waters placing dead fish on their heads. This peculiar behavior was first observed more than 30 years ago, disappeared for decades, and has recently resurfaced — suggesting that orcas can learn and re-enact specific behaviors from the past. And that’s not all.
Sharing Food and Care
Other studies have documented orcas offering food to humans at sea — a behavior that seems to blend curiosity, playfulness, and perhaps an attempt to build a connection. Using drone footage, researchers have also observed new collective behaviors, with orcas rubbing their bodies against seaweed in what appears to be a form of social grooming or mutual cleaning.
The Climate Threat and Food Shortage
These fascinating behaviors now face a serious threat. Rising ocean temperatures are endangering the seaweed orcas rely on, while their main food source — the Chinook salmon — is declining alarmingly due to climate change. Evidence of this can be seen in the population of resident orcas in the Salish Sea, which has dropped to fewer than 90 individuals.
Although other types of salmon remain abundant, these orcas’ unique feeding culture makes them reject any species other than the one they are accustomed to.
From ramming boats to playing with fish, sharing food, and rubbing their bodies with seaweed, all these behaviors reveal that killer whales don’t merely act out of survival instinct — they develop social patterns passed down through generations, forming a culture of their own.
Darren Croft, Executive Director of the Center for Whale Research in the United States, explains:
“We know that killer whales often engage in physical contact within their groups, but the use of seaweed seems to strengthen these bonds in ways we never imagined.”
Scientists’ Concerns
As climate change continues, scientists fear that the number of these majestic creatures will keep declining. Yet, they also believe that studying their culture offers humanity a rare window into how other species build complex social worlds — ones that, in many ways, mirror our own.
