Latest news with #allokelping
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
I was a big orca fan – but their skincare regime is giving me the ick
I've thought for a while that it would be nice to be an orca. Not because I hate boats and they sink them (though I get it – the briny depths are none of our human business). What actually appeals is the idea of being charismatic megafauna – I love that phrase – and also important as a post-menopausal female. Orcas are one of very few species that go through menopause, living for decades after their reproductive years. These older matriarchs remain an integral part of the community, improving pod survival rates thanks to being 'repositories of ecological knowledge', caring for young and even, research suggests, keeping their giant adult sons safe from being attacked. The fact that they're fashion-conscious is a bonus: the 80s orca trend for wearing jaunty salmon fascinators was revived, intriguingly, in some pods last December; other orcas have been observed draping themselves artistically in kelp. But new research is giving me pause. Now orcas in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington state have been filmed picking kelp stalks and 'massaging' each other with them. In sightings of this behaviour, reported and dubbed 'allokelping' by the Center for Whale Research, 'the two whales then manoeuvre to keep the kelp between them while rolling it across their bodies … During contact, whales roll and twist their bodies, often adopting an exaggerated S-shaped posture.' Whether this weirdly acrobatic seaweed exfoliation is more about skincare or social bonding is unclear, but it's fascinating. It's also, however, off-putting. There's a nauseating 'mud-daubed couples' cute spa selfie' or 'wearing matching thong swimwear to give each other a scrub at the mixed hammam session' vibe to this kelp massage business. It seems out of character for my orca heroines: this is the kind of performative sensuality I can imagine dolphins indulging in (don't get me started on dolphins). I'm choosing, however, to have faith. Hopefully 'allokelping' will be revealed to be a creative part of a greater orca plan – perhaps to destroy humanity by giving us a catastrophic inter-species ick? I can't become one, but I remain, as ever, ready to accept my orca overladies. Emma Beddington is a Guardian columnist
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
I was a big orca fan – but their skincare regime is giving me the ick
I've thought for a while that it would be nice to be an orca. Not because I hate boats and they sink them (though I get it – the briny depths are none of our human business). What actually appeals is the idea of being charismatic megafauna – I love that phrase – and also important as a post-menopausal female. Orcas are one of very few species that go through menopause, living for decades after their reproductive years. These older matriarchs remain an integral part of the community, improving pod survival rates thanks to being 'repositories of ecological knowledge', caring for young and even, research suggests, keeping their giant adult sons safe from being attacked. The fact that they're fashion-conscious is a bonus: the 80s orca trend for wearing jaunty salmon fascinators was revived, intriguingly, in some pods last December; other orcas have been observed draping themselves artistically in kelp. But new research is giving me pause. Now orcas in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington state have been filmed picking kelp stalks and 'massaging' each other with them. In sightings of this behaviour, reported and dubbed 'allokelping' by the Center for Whale Research, 'the two whales then manoeuvre to keep the kelp between them while rolling it across their bodies … During contact, whales roll and twist their bodies, often adopting an exaggerated S-shaped posture.' Whether this weirdly acrobatic seaweed exfoliation is more about skincare or social bonding is unclear, but it's fascinating. It's also, however, off-putting. There's a nauseating 'mud-daubed couples' cute spa selfie' or 'wearing matching thong swimwear to give each other a scrub at the mixed hammam session' vibe to this kelp massage business. It seems out of character for my orca heroines: this is the kind of performative sensuality I can imagine dolphins indulging in (don't get me started on dolphins). I'm choosing, however, to have faith. Hopefully 'allokelping' will be revealed to be a creative part of a greater orca plan – perhaps to destroy humanity by giving us a catastrophic inter-species ick? I can't become one, but I remain, as ever, ready to accept my orca overladies. Emma Beddington is a Guardian columnist
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Orcas use kelp to groom each other, US researchers discover
The Brief Southern resident killer whales have been observed using detached seaweed as tools to rub against each other, a first for marine mammals. This unique behavior, called "allokelping," is thought to strengthen social bonds and maintain skin health among the whales. The survival of these critically endangered whales and their distinctive culture is threatened by declining food sources and warming oceans impacting kelp forests. Southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea have been observed using detached pieces of seaweed to rub against each other, the first recorded instance of tool-making by marine mammals. This behavior, called "allokelping," may strengthen social bonds and contribute to skin health among the whales. Researchers from the Center for Whale Research (CWR) and the University of Exeter documented the behavior using drone footage. Whales were seen biting off kelp stalks, positioning them between themselves and a partner, and rolling the kelp between their bodies for extended periods. What they're saying "We were amazed when we first noticed this behavior," said Dr. Michael Weiss, CWR research director. He noted that bull kelp is "firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface," making it an ideal grooming tool. Unlike general "kelping," moving kelp for play or to remove parasites, allokelping involves the deliberate creation and cooperative manipulation of a tool by two whales. Dr. Weiss highlighted that the behavior is widespread among all ages and pods of southern resident killer whales, suggesting it's an important part of their social lives. Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, explained the significance of touch in animals, including humans, for moderating stress and building relationships. He suggested that using kelp could enhance this tactile experience and also benefit skin health. Brown algaes like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may offer additional benefits. By the numbers As of CWR's last census in July 2024, only 73 southern resident killer whales remain. Their numbers are critically low due to declining Chinook salmon populations (their primary food source), pollution, and noise from human activities. Bull kelp forests, where the whales source their tools, are also declining due to rising ocean temperatures. Big picture view Dr. Weiss expressed concern for the population's future. "Under the status quo, all of our projections indicate the population will continue to decline," Dr. Weiss said. He emphasized that losing these whales means losing "a complex society and a deep, unique set of cultural traditions." Professor Croft added that protecting kelp forests may be crucial for preserving this unique culture. The study, titled "Wild killer whales manufacture and use allogrooming tools," was published in the journal Current Biology. The Source Information in this story came from the Center for Whale Research. New US Marshals photos show high-stakes WA manhunt for Travis Decker $79M Seattle-area home is now most expensive listing in Pacific Northwest Seattle's Duwamish River Festival canceled over concerns of ICE agents Seattle to consider issuing $1k fines for illegal graffiti Report states half a million WA drivers have expired tabs To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
CNA
24-06-2025
- Science
- CNA
Killer whales use seaweed as tools to groom each other
Killer whales are known for exceptional intelligence, displaying complex social structures and sophisticated communication. New research provides fresh evidence for this, documenting how these marine mammals use stalks of seaweed as tools to groom each other - as in, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Using drones to observe a population of killer whales in the Salish Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean between Washington state and British Columbia, researchers noticed that these predators engaged in a behavior they named "allokelping," one of the few known examples of tool use by marine mammals. The killer whales find large stalks of a type of seaweed called bull kelp, either attached to the seabed or floating at the surface. They then bite off the end of the stalk, position it between themselves and another killer whale and roll the kelp between their bodies. The researchers hypothesize that the behavior promotes skin health while strengthening social bonds. Other populations of killer whales have been observed rubbing their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin. "Most examples of tool use in animals involve solving ecological problems, such as gaining access to food. For example, chimpanzees use sticks to fish for termites. What's remarkable about this discovery is that the tool - the kelp - is used not to obtain food but to facilitate social interaction," said marine biologist Darren Croft of the University of Exeter in England, co-author of the study published this week in the journal Current Biology. "This kind of socially motivated tool use is extremely rare in non-human animals and has previously only been observed in a small number of primates, usually in captivity," added Croft, executive director of the Center for Whale Research, a scientific organization based in Washington state that has studied this population of killer whales since the 1970s. The researchers documented the behavior among both male and female killer whales of all ages. It likely plays an important role in their social lives, Croft said. There are some other examples of tool use among marine mammals. Sea otters use rocks and other hard objects to crack open shells to get at the meat inside. And certain dolphins use marine sponges to protect their snouts and stir up the seabed while foraging. The researchers said the behavior by the killer whales goes one step further because they modify an object for use as a tool. "While this is not the first documented case of cetacean or marine mammal tool use, it is - as far as we know - the first case of cetacean tool manufacturing with tool use. The whales are not just finding perfect lengths of kelp in the environment, but rather actively modifying larger intact stalks of kelp to create the pieces they are using for allokelping," said study co-author Rachel John, a University of Exeter graduate student studying killer whale behavior. "Another key part of what makes this behavior so unique is the fact that they are manipulating the kelp cooperatively with a partner without the use of hands or any hand-like appendages. They use their mouth to position the kelp initially, but after that they only use the momentum and pressure of the core of their bodies to maintain contact with each other and the kelp between them," John added. The behavior is known only among this killer whale population. "We found that individuals with more visible peeling skin were more likely to engage in allokelping, suggesting that the behavior may serve a skin-care function. Brown seaweeds like kelp are known to have antibacterial properties, so it's plausible that rubbing with kelp helps improve skin health," Croft said. "Second, we think this behavior likely plays a role in maintaining social bonds. Physical contact is known to be important for social cohesion in many species, including humans. Just as we might hug a friend we haven't seen in a while, it's possible that allokelping serves to reinforce social relationships among whales," Croft added. This kelp grows in cold and nutrient-rich coastal and intertidal waters and thrives off the western coast of North America, which includes the home range of these killer whales. This population is at grave risk of extinction, Croft said, with only 73 individuals counted in the latest census. They are highly specialized salmon hunters, particularly reliant on Chinook salmon. As salmon populations have declined, in part due to dam-building on spawning rivers, the whales have struggled to find enough food. "In short, they are starving," Croft said.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Watch: Orcas use seaweed tools to scratch each other's backs
Killer whales have been filmed fashioning seaweed sticks to scratch each other's backs in the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals. Scientists spotted the behaviour in drone footage of orcas swimming in the Salish Sea, off the coast of Washington state in the US. The orcas were seen to bite off the end of a kelp stalk, position it between themselves and a partner and roll the kelp between their bodies for prolonged periods. Dr Michael Weiss, of the Centre for Whale Research (CWR), said: 'We were amazed when we first noticed this behaviour.' He added: 'The more observations we had, the more we realised they weren't just finding these pieces of kelp in the environment and grabbing them, they were actually fashioning these tools or these tools from complete kelp stalks.' Whales are known to play with seaweed and are often seen draping it over their backs or wearing it as hats in a process called 'kelping'. But this discovery is different because the kelp is deliberately selected, torn off and manipulated by two whales working together. Researchers have called the new behaviour 'allokelping', which means 'kelping with another'. The pieces of kelp the orcas use are around two feet long. The Salish Sea whales have been studied since the 1970s, and their habits were thought to be well known. But new drone technology has allowed researchers to observe behaviour that they believe may have been happening for decades without being seen. 'Happening all the time' Rachel John, a Master's student studying animal behaviour at the University of Exeter, said: 'We hadn't noticed 'allokelping' before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren't of high enough quality, but the footage we're getting now shows this behaviour in great detail. 'I was watching one of those really close-up videos when I saw something that looked like a brown stick between two whales that were in contact with each other. We looked back at lots of videos and realised that rubbing kelp between their bodies wasn't just a one-off thing – it was happening all the time. 'And once we saw whales breaking off pieces of kelp intentionally, it became clear that this is not just play – this is something important in the social lives of the 'southern resident' killer whales.' Over a 12-day study period, the whales performed 'allokelping' on eight of the days and were more likely to carry out the practice on closely related whales or similarly aged partners, leading experts to suggest that it may be a form of grooming. Bull kelp stalk is firm and flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface, which experts said made an ideal grooming tool. The team also saw some evidence that whales with more moulting or dead skin were more likely to take part in 'allokelping', suggesting that it may also serve as a hygienic function. Important for skin health Prof Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, said: 'We know touch is really important. In primates – including humans – touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships. ' Killer whales often make contact with other members of their group, touching with their bodies and fins, 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. 'Brown algae like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide further benefits to the whales.' Other killer whale pods have been spotted rubbing their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin and parasites. However, the Salish Sea whales have not been seen doing this, suggesting that the kelp may offer an alternative solution. The researchers said it was unclear whether the grooming behaviour was entirely unique to this population or more widespread among other whale populations and species. The study was published in the journal Current Biology.
