In June 2022, Cherine Baumgartner observed an anomaly: a young pilot whale among a pod of killer whales off the coast of Iceland. This prompted a three-hour observation of interactions that led to questions about the nature of their relationship. Subsequent sightings from 2021-2023 revealed continued interaction, yet the pilot whale calves were seldom seen for long. A study discusses three possible explanations for these behaviorsâpredation, play, and parentingâproviding insights into the behavior of these marine mammals and raising new questions about their social structures.
In 2022 and 2023, researchers observed interactions between killer whales and baby pilot whales in Iceland, leading to hypotheses of predation, play, or parenting.
Cherine Baumgartner's observation of a baby pilot whale among a pod of orcas highlights the complex and sometimes puzzling interactions between these intelligent marine species.
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