Wild orcas will sometimes offer food to humans
Orcas (Orcinus orca) don’t appear to be big fans of yachts, but some of them may be curious about humans themselves. According to a study published on June 30 in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, cetology researchers have confirmed dozens of instances of killer whales intentionally approaching people and offering them food—a behavior they typically reserve for building bonds between orca pods. “Orcas often share food with each other—it’s a prosocial activity and a way that they build relationships with each other,” Jared Towers, a study lead author and executive director of the British Columbia-based research organization Bay Cetology said in a statement. “That they also share with humans may show their interest in relating to us as well.” Towers collaborated with Vanessa Prigollini at Mexico’s Marine Education Association along with killer whale expert Ingrid Visser at the Orca Research Trust in New Zealand to collect incidents of the apex predators voluntarily...