Why do killer whales keep handing us fish? Scientists unpack the mystery (www.sciencedaily.com)
from cm0002@lemmy.cafe to science@mander.xyz on 05 Jul 2025 20:32
https://lemmy.cafe/post/19930363

#science

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DarkCloud@lemmy.world on 05 Jul 2025 20:42 next collapse

Game recognizes game.

AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world on 05 Jul 2025 21:25 next collapse

The only time orcas see humans is when we’re flailing practically helplessly in the water—they’re probably trying to save us from extinction.

acockworkorange@mander.xyz on 05 Jul 2025 21:39 next collapse

“Offering items to humans could simultaneously include opportunities for killer whales to practice learned cultural behavior, explore or play and in so doing learn about, manipulate or develop relationships with us,” the researchers wrote. “Giving the advanced cognitive abilities and social, cooperative nature of this species, we assume that any or all these explanations for, and outcomes of such behavior are possible.”

Broadfern@lemmy.world on 05 Jul 2025 21:51 next collapse

So…they’re researching us?

murmurations@lemmy.sdf.org on 05 Jul 2025 22:35 collapse

After humans have been genociding them and jamming their frequencies, their instinct in research is to gift humans food

catty@lemmy.world on 05 Jul 2025 22:30 collapse

The wolves of the seas. Ten thousand years from now, everyone will have a pet killer whale.

Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works on 05 Jul 2025 23:31 collapse

That’s ridiculous. We won’t have oceans that far in the future.

catty@lemmy.world on 05 Jul 2025 22:29 next collapse

I think it could actually be more like the “horse’s head in the bed” warning from the God Father.

Kolanaki@pawb.social on 05 Jul 2025 23:34 next collapse

Whales and dolphins have speech, too.

muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com on 06 Jul 2025 04:16 collapse

We absolutely should be working harder on building a translation imo

lurch@sh.itjust.works on 06 Jul 2025 10:58 next collapse

probably bait to lure more humans into the water 😆

Mobiuthuselah@mander.xyz on 06 Jul 2025 15:49 next collapse

Has anyone tried playing fetch?

SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works on 06 Jul 2025 16:03 collapse

They’re paying tribute