Orca whales have been observed biting off lengths of kelp and using the strands to massage each other \u2014 the first known evidence of marine mammals making tools.<\/p>\n
A group of killer whales off the coast of the United States and Canada were seen removing the ends of seaweed stalks, putting them between their bodies and rolling them for long periods, likely for play and to strengthen social bonds, and possibly to remove parasites or dead skill cells.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were amazed when we first noticed this behaviour,\u201d said Dr. Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research (CWR), in a press release from the University of Exeter.<\/p>\n
Scientists spotted the unique behavior by southern resident killer whales of all ages in Washington State\u2019s Salish Sea captured on drone footage.<\/p>\n
The study was led by CWR in collaboration with researchers from the University of Exeter and Boston\u2019s Northeastern University.<\/p>\n
Several species of whales have been known to engage in \u201ckelping,\u201d which involves moving seaweed with their bodies, fins and head.<\/p>\n
The new discovery \u2014 termed \u201callokelping,\u201d or kelping with another whale \u2014 is unique since the kelp is chosen and trimmed to be used as a \u201ctool\u201d in the future and manipulated by a pair of whales working together.<\/p>\n
\u201cBull kelp stalk is firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface. I suspect these features make it an ideal grooming tool,\u201d Weiss said. \u201cWhat I find remarkable about this behaviour is just how widespread it is in the population. Males and females of all life stages and from all three southern resident pods were seen using kelp in this way. All evidence points to it being an important part of their social lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research team observed the whales allokelping on eight of 12 days of the study. Based on the encounters, they suspect the behavior could be universal in the population.<\/p>\n
Whales most often paired up to engage in allokelping with those of similar age, and close maternal relatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis population of whales has been formally studied for 50 years \u2013 the best-studied orcas on the planet \u2013 and yet major new discoveries can still be made,\u201d said Rachel John, a University of Exeter masters student of animal behavior, in the press release. \u201cWe hadn\u2019t noticed \u2018allokelping\u2019 before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren\u2019t of high enough quality, but the footage we\u2019re getting now shows this behaviour in great detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Darren Croft, executive director of CWR and a professor of animal behavior at the University of Exeter, said touch is known to be important.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn primates \u2013 including humans \u2013 touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships,\u201d Croft explained. \u201cWe know killer whales often make contact with other members of their group \u2013 touching with their bodies and fins \u2013 but using kelp like this might enhance this experience. It might also be important for skin health. Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Croft said bull kelp and other types of brown algae also have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that could benefit the whales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now working on more research to confirm these initial findings and investigate the social and skin health benefits of this behaviour,\u201d Croft added.<\/p>\n
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