Latest news with #Kvænangen
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Orcas Filmed Exhibiting Rare, Human-Like Behavior for First Time
If you're ready for a summer romance, you're not alone in the mammal kingdom. In fact, even your aquatic brethren are getting a little hot and heavy beneath the waves. A recent study published in the research journal Oceans has added yet another interesting, human-like interaction to the pantheon of orca behaviors observed in the wild. This time, the orcas were filmed "tongue nibbling," an affectionate behavior not unlike human kissing. 'This study presents the first recorded observation of tongue-nibbling between two wild killer whales," the study says, with video captured by a citizen scientist on a snorkeling expedition in the Kvænangen fjords in northern Norway. Although it's been observed occasionally by orcas in captivity as far back as the '70s, this is the first time the behavior was caught in the interaction, the study notes, "lasted nearly two minutes and involved repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact. This behaviour closely resembles sequences observed and described in detail in zoological settings, suggesting that it forms part of the species' natural social repertoire. The observation also supports the interpretation of tongue-nibbling as a socially affiliative behaviour, likely involved in reinforcing social bonds, particularly among juveniles." Although the exact purpose of the behavior has not been determined, scientists compared it to kissing behaviors observed in primates and beluga whales, which serve communicative or bonding functions. 'This behavior appears to serve affiliative purposes and may play a role in reinforcing social bonds or resolving conflicts, akin to grooming or reconciliation behaviors in other highly social species," said co-author Javier Almunia to LiveScience. Check out the video below: Orcas Filmed Exhibiting Rare, Human-Like Behavior for First Time first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 3, 2025
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Science
- News.com.au
Wild, never-before seen orca makeout footage stuns
The killer smooch was caught on camera by scientists during a snorkelling trip in northern Norway. The tender interaction between the two orcas - also known as killer whales - took place in the dramatic Kvænangen fjords, about 68 miles northeast of Tromsø. In the nearly two-minute-long video, the orcas are seen engaging in three separate 'kissing' episodes, lasting 10, 26 and 18 seconds each. During these intimate moments, one orca extends its tongue while the other appears to gently mouth or nibble it. After the final 'kiss', the highly intelligent mammals part ways and swim off in opposite directions. In the paper published in the journal Oceans, researchers describe the two adult orcas as engaging in 'repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact'. The snorkellers floated quietly and horizontally in the water - careful not to disturb the orcas - and filmed the interaction on a GoPro. Scientists call this tactile interaction 'tongue-nibbling'. Study author Dr Javier Almunia told Live Science that 'tongue-nibbling is exceptionally rare', explaining that, until now, this behaviour had only been seen in orcas in human care. While tongue-nibbling has not been recorded in other species, similar mouth-to-mouth contact has been spotted in belugas, according to Dr Almunia. He added: 'This behaviour appears to serve affiliative purposes and may play a role in reinforcing social bonds or resolving conflicts, akin to grooming or reconciliation behaviours in other highly social species.' Mouth-to-mouth contact in orcas was previously recorded in 2013 at Loro Parque, a zoo on Tenerife. During that observation, 'one individual protruded its tongue while the other made gentle nibbling movements,' the study authors, Dr Almunia and colleagues, explain. The zoo-keepers reported that tongue-nibbling behaviour had been noted in four individual orcas at the park. Mouth-to-mouth contact was first documented in captive orcas in a 1978 study by Paul Spong and Ingrid Visser, who suggested it plays a role in maintaining social cohesion. It comes as two pals on a fishing trip spotted what appeared to be a pod of killer whales in the Channel. David Hilton, 64, and Paul Bradshaw, 61, were angling off the South Coast when they saw several large creatures breaching the surface. They appeared to be hunting dolphins in busy international shipping lanes, just five miles south of Plymouth, Devon. Orcas are found in oceans all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest (US and Canada), Norway, Iceland and the Antarctic water. But sightings in the Channel are rare. The Channel is not a typical habitat for orcas as it is shallow and heavily trafficked.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Orcas Caught 'Kissing' For Two Minutes With Tongue
We've recently seen orcas foray into the world of fashion by wearing dead salmon as hats. Now a pair of orcas has been caught 'French kissing', taking their apparent mockery of human habits towards another flavor of gross. The whales' slobber sharing was incidentally captured by citizen scientists who observed and recorded the wild orcas (Orcinus orca) nibbling on each other's tongues in Norway's Kvænangen fjords. Maybe the marine mammals used some kelp grooming tools earlier to prepare for this date? "The interaction… lasted nearly two minutes and involved repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact," describe marine scientist Javier Almunia, director of the Loro Parque Foundation, and colleagues. Such behavior in orcas had only been observed in captivity previously, as recorded in a 2019 study (video below). "We documented the pattern 'gentle tongue bite', where an animal touches the other's tongue with his teeth but does not bite it," the researchers explained at the time. Related: Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) have also displayed mouth-to-mouth interactions in the wild. During a study on captive belugas, kissing behaviors were mostly initiated by the young animals, suggestive of play that might help refine motor and social skills. Neither species showed any signs of aggression during these interactions. So, while researchers caution it is difficult to draw conclusions from a single observation, they suspect the orcas could be using this behavior to help maintain social bonds. Alternatively, the 'kissing' could be a form of social grooming – as seen in primates – or even a type of begging behavior, Almunia and team speculate. It might also be a cultural trend, a game passing through the pod like the dead salmon hats, which only seem to occur in one cultural group of orcas. Along with kelp or pebble grooming, other signs of distinct orca cultures include regional differences in their dialects, food preferences, and hunting techniques. A group in the Mediterranean has even developed a habit of attacking sailing yachts. Whatever the purpose behind an orca's kiss, the recent spate of unexpected behaviors discovered in orcas makes one thing clear: there's still so much we don't understand about the remarkable animals we share our world with. This research was published in Oceans. Microbe 'Flavors' Tell Octopuses Which Babies Deserve Their Care A Mysterious Blob of Cold Water Defies Ocean Heat – Now We Know Why Scientists Discover 'Goblin Prince' That Roamed With Dinosaurs
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Orca Whales Captured 'Making Out' in the Wild For the First Time in 'Exceptionally Rare' Kissing Session
Scientists have recorded wild orcas "tongue-nibbling" for the first time, sharing the evidence in a recent study The behavior is considered "extremely rare" by scientists and was previously only seen by juvenile orcas in captivity Scientists believe that the kissing-like behavior likely reinforces "social bonds" between the animalsScientists have recorded the wild orcas engaging in "tongue-nibbling" — a social behavior similar to "making out" or French kissing — for the first time ever. Details on the documentation of this rare behavior appear in a new study published in the Oceans journal on June 11. Prior to the study, which includes images of two young wild killer whales "tongue-nibbling" in the waters near Norway, the behavior was only witnessed in a handful of captive orcas. According to the study, "tongue nibbling" is a "socially affiliative behavior" which likely reinforces "social bonds" — particularly among juvenile orcas. It is also a behavior that is deemed "exceptionally rare," the study's co-author, Javier Almunia, told Live Science. "Orca caretakers at several facilities are aware of the behaviour, but its prevalence is extremely low — it may appear and then not be observed again for several years," he told the outlet. The "tongue-nibbling" behavior documented in the study was observed by a group of snorkelers under the supervision of expedition leaders on January 11, 2024, in the Kvænangen fjords, located in northern Norway. The snorkelers observed two killer whales "engaging in a prolonged mouth-to-mouth interaction" that lasted almost two minutes. The snorkelers noted that the orcas "approached one another and maintained contact between the anterior portions of their heads" as they interacted. "At that time, some observers on board remarked that the animals appeared to be 'kissing' beneath the boat—a description identical to that provided independently by the guests who recorded the event in Tverrfjorden," the study said. Photos captured of the event and shared in the study show one orca opening its mouth as the other encloses its mouth around the other animal's tongue. Scientists noted in the study that "one individual protruded its tongue while the other made gentle nibbling movements." Scientists said after recording the behavior, they "consulted" with three professional divers and underwater videographers with extensive experience documenting killer whales, who noted that they had not witnessed the "tongue-nibbling" before. Senior marine mammal trainers at Loro Parque confirmed that they had observed this behavior among "four individuals housed at the facility," although they had not witnessed it in "subsequent years," according to the study. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The study noted that there were "significant parallels" between the orcas' "tongue-nibbling" and "mouth-to-mouth interactions" in belugas. The scientists shared that those behaviors often involved "younger individuals" and served an "affiliative function." "This could suggest that, given cetacean anatomy — particularly the adaptation of limbs to the marine environment — oral contact may serve as a more versatile means of social communication than in terrestrial mammals," Almunia told Live Science. However, scientists also noted that they were uncertain why the orcas exhibited these behaviors, and further research would be needed to understand "tongue-nibbling" definitively. Luke Rendall, a marine mammal researcher at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told Live Science that the behavior "may be affiliative, it might be a form of begging, that is trying to stimulate food transfers, it might even be a form of grooming, somehow having a cleaning function." Read the original article on People
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Never-before-seen moment two frisky killer whales are filmed KISSING in incredible footage – and they even use tongue
THIS is the astonishing moment a pair of orcas was spotted kissing - with tongues - for the first time ever in the wild. The killer smooch was caught on camera by scientists during a snorkelling trip in northern Norway. 4 The heart-warming interaction between the two orcas - also known as killer whales - took place in the dramatic Kvænangen fjords, about 68 miles northeast of Tromsø. In the nearly two-minute-long video, the orcas are seen engaging in three separate 'kissing' episodes, lasting 10, 26 and 18 seconds each. During these intimate moments, one orca extends its tongue while the other appears to gently mouth or nibble it. After the final 'kiss', the highly intelligent mammals part ways and swim off in opposite directions. In the paper published in the journal Oceans, researchers describe the two adult orcas as engaging in 'repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact'. The snorkellers floated quietly and horizontally in the water - careful not to disturb the orcas - and filmed the interaction on a GoPro. Scientists call this tactile interaction 'tongue-nibbling'. Study author Dr Javier Almunia told Live Science that "tongue-nibbling is exceptionally rare", explaining that, until now, this behaviour had only been seen in orcas in human care. While tongue-nibbling has not been recorded in other species, similar mouth-to-mouth contact has been spotted in belugas, according to Dr Almunia. He added: "This behaviour appears to serve affiliative purposes and may play a role in reinforcing social bonds or resolving conflicts, akin to grooming or reconciliation behaviours in other highly social species." Watch rare vid of 'glowing' albino killer whale as elusive real-life Moby Dick breaches waves leaving orca fan 'shaking' Mouth-to-mouth contact in orcas was previously recorded in 2013 at Loro Parque, a zoo on Tenerife. During that observation, 'one individual protruded its tongue while the other made gentle nibbling movements,' the study authors, Dr Almunia and colleagues, explain. The zoo-keepers reported that tongue-nibbling behaviour had been noted in four individual orcas at the park. Mouth-to-mouth contact was first documented in captive orcas in a 1978 study by Paul Spong and Ingrid Visser, who suggested it plays a role in maintaining social cohesion. It comes as two pals on a fishing trip spotted what appeared to be a pod of killer whales in the Channel. David Hilton, 64, and Paul Bradshaw, 61, were angling off the South Coast when they saw several large creatures breaching the surface. They appeared to be hunting dolphins in busy international shipping lanes, just five miles south of Plymouth, Devon. Orcas are found in oceans all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest (US and Canada), Norway, Iceland and the Antarctic water. But sightings in the Channel are rare. The Channel is not a typical habitat for orcas as it is shallow and heavily trafficked. 4 Why do orcas "kiss"? ORCAS are highly intelligent mammals, known for their advanced communication skills and their complex social structures Killer whales are known to 'kiss' by gently touching or nuzzling each other with their mouths. Scientists say this behaviour is a way for orcas to show affection, build trust and communicate - much like humans hugging or holding hands. Researchers studying orcas both in the wild and in captivity believe this behaviour helps them relieve stress, resolve conflicts and strengthen long-term social bonds. When orcas 'kiss' or nuzzle, it's usually an affectionate, social gesture rather than a romantic one. Mothers and calves are often seen engaging in this behaviour, along with other members of a pod - their tight-knit family groups.
