GS3 – Environment
Context
- A new study (Journal of Comparative Psychology, 2024) has documented orcas (killer whales, the largest species of dolphins) offering freshly killed prey to humans and waiting for a response before recovering or abandoning it.
- Raises questions about animal cognition, social behaviour, and human–wildlife interaction.
Key Findings of the Study
Behavioural Patterns
- 34 confirmed instances of provisioning humans.
- In 33/34 cases, orcas waited for human response before reclaiming or abandoning prey.
- Prey types offered: seaweed, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals.
- Some humans initially declined offerings, reporting surprise at the gesture.
Are Orcas Smart?
- Orcas = apex predators, top of marine food chain.
- Large brain-to-body ratio → linked to advanced cognition, learning, and social skills.
- Social structure:
- Live & hunt in pods led by a matriarch (oldest female).
- Group behaviour largely influenced by her decisions.
Why Are Orcas Doing This?
- Not Just Play:
- Play usually associated with juveniles.
- In half the cases, whole prey was offered (not partly eaten).
- Exploration Behaviour:
- Animals explore to reduce uncertainty about environment/social interactions.
- Orcas may be testing human responses.
- Higher Cognition:
- Behaviour may resemble scientific thinking → asking questions and seeking answers.
About Orcas (Orcinus orca)
- Largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae).
- Widely distributed across all oceans.
- Known for coordinated hunting, complex communication, and cultural transmission of behaviours.
- IUCN Status: Data Deficient (due to incomplete population data).
Provisioning in Animal Behaviour
- Provisioning = animals deliberately offering or sharing food with conspecifics (same species) or heterospecifics (other species).
- Seen in primates, dolphins, and some birds.
- May signal:
- Play, exploration, or teaching behaviour.
- Social bonding or establishing dominance.
- Attempts at reciprocity.