Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Killer Whales Baffle Scientists by Sharing Prey with Humans**

**Chennai, India – September 1, 2025** – In a fascinating and somewhat unsettling development, killer whales (Orcinus orca) around the globe have been observed offering freshly killed prey to humans. A new study published in the *Journal of Comparative Psychology* sheds light on this unusual behavior, leaving researchers both intrigued and cautious.

The study, led by Jared Towers of the Bay Cetology research institute, analyzed data from 34 instances reported between 2004 and 2024 across five ocean regions. Researchers compiled their data from interviews, photos, and videos, only including observations where humans were a significant distance away before the killer whales initiated contact, approaching and releasing prey within close proximity.

Remarkably, in 33 of the 34 observed instances, the killer whales waited for a human response before either consuming or abandoning the offering. The gifts included a variety of species, ranging from seaweed and invertebrates to fish, reptiles, birds, and even mammals.

The motivation behind this behavior remains a mystery. While killer whales are known for their complex social structures and prey-sharing habits within their own species and occasionally with others, interactions with humans are rare. Several hypotheses are being explored.

“I’ve experienced killer whales offering me prey on more than one occasion, which provided the initial motivation for the study,” said Towers.

One theory suggests the whales are exploring their surroundings, driven by their high intelligence and curiosity. Experts point out the link between high encephalisation, meaning a larger brain size relative to the size of the body, over evolutionary time, and better cognition, learning, and social behaviour. The study ruled out the possibility of play, given the involvement of both adult and juvenile whales, and the fact that the whales frequently offered whole, rather than partially consumed, prey.

Another theory suggests “scientific thinking, which has been described as the ability to ask questions and then pursue answers,” Towers said.

However, researchers also caution against dismissing the possibility of Machiavellian intent, noting that killer whales are known to be manipulative in other contexts, such as stealing fish from fishing lines.

“Some of these cases may be Machiavellian because killer whales often act without due regard for people, even though they have not harmed anyone in the wild,” said Towers.

Regardless of the underlying reason, the increased interaction between humans and killer whales offers both risks and opportunities. More interactions could lead to the dolphins to adapt their behaviour to become more friendly or more hostile, depending on the female leading the group. Increased human contact could also spark interest in conservation efforts.

“People are often inclined to conserve or protect the things they relate to and care about. In this case, we have experienced killer whales going out of their way to relate to us,” Towers said.

The study highlights the value of citizen science in documenting rare events and expanding research possibilities.

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