Overview
- A Scientific Reports paper published Dec. 11 details the first documented cooperative foraging between northern resident orcas and Pacific white-sided dolphins off northern Vancouver Island.
- Researchers recorded 25 cases of orcas changing course to trail dolphins on foraging dives, plus eight Chinook captures with dolphins present in four, including one confirmed scavenging of salmon scraps.
- Integrated biologging video and audio, aerial drones, movement data and underwater footage showed orcas often reducing their own echolocation, consistent with possible eavesdropping on dolphin clicks.
- The authors hypothesize reciprocal benefits: better detection of deep Chinook for orcas, access to edible fragments and potential protection from mammal‑eating killer whales for dolphins.
- Study authors and independent experts describe the cooperative interpretation as preliminary and call for broader, quantitative work to gauge how common it is and whether it improves foraging success.