The Strange Ways Southern Resident Orcas Socialize

Orcas are brilliant creatures. Their brains are highly developed when it comes to problem-solving skills, cognition, and communication within the species. In addition to their wits, orcas are also very protective of their pods, with whom they have a complex social structure. One population of orca is also very social: the Southern Resident orca. There are only three distinct pods of these killer whales left. All have been known to play games within the pods and have created strong relationships with their pod members. But a newly witnessed behavior that only the Southern Resident orcas participate in has taken socialization to the next level, as the orcas are now massaging one another with kelp.

Why Orcas Massage Each Other with Kelp

Southern Resident orcas are making headlines for a behavioral trait that is unique to the species. The pods of killer whales that spend time in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington and Canada were seen grabbing large pieces of bull kelp and using them in what appeared to be a grooming ritual.

In a new study published in Current Biology, Southern Resident orcas were seen on more than one occasion between April 10 and July 27, 2024, biting off pieces of kelp. The orcas would then position the kelp between themselves and roll it along their bodies. Other species of orca have been seen with kelp draped over their bodies. This led to the term “kelping.” But this is the first time any species of killer whale has been seen using the kelp to essentially massage or groom themselves. Consequently, a new term, “allokelping,” was born.

The Southern Resident orcas would bite a piece off the bull kelp growing in the ocean. They would then find a partner, place the kelp on their upper jaw or snout, and then hold the kelp in place while the partner whale helped it to roll back and forth.

According to Michael Weiss of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Washington, the interaction between the whales could last for long stretches of time.

“They kind of maneuver their body to keep the kelp wedged between the two of them,” Weiss explains to LiveScience, “and they roll it back and forth, sometimes for just a few seconds, sometimes for up to 15 minutes.”

The study concluded that Southern Resident orcas participate in this behavior for both hygienic and social reasons. Therefore, allokelping is a form of social skin maintenance, making it an example of tool-assisted allogrooming, and is also correlated with maternal kinship and age similarity.

There was no play or “keep-away” behavior associated with the kelp. Therefore, it is not a game being played by the Southern Resident orcas. However, scientists state more research is needed to determine how allokelping is learned and the exact role it plays within the Southern Resident orca population.

A Newly Observed Behavior

Southern Resident orcas have never before been seen massaging one another with kelp.. Scientists are unsure whether this behavior is new or simply more visible due to new technology. According to Deborah Giles, an orca specialist at the non-profit SeaDoc Society, who was not a participant in the study, orcas have demonstrated similar behavior as seen in the drone footage. However, Giles witnessed the behavior while observing the killer whales from a boat. She wonders if she was seeing the same behavior, but never observed the kelp being used.

“I’ve often observed killer whales rolling around on each other from a boat. It makes me wonder if they’ve been engaging in this behavior all of that time,” Giles tells LiveScience. “Drone imagery has created an opportunity for us to see into the lives of these animals in a way that has never been possible before.”

Whether the behavior is new or something the Southern Resident orcas have always done may never be known. But it is not the first time that unique behavior traits within the orca population have been witnessed.

Other Odd Behaviors from Southern Resident Orcas

Southern Resident orcas not only massage one another with kelp, but they also wear salmon hats. They are the only orca population to do this, which has left scientists scratching their heads as they try to determine what the behavior means. First seen in the species in the 1980s, scientists were stunned to see Southern Resident orcas carrying dead Chinook salmon on their heads, wearing them like hats. It was not exclusive to just one of the three Southern Resident pods.. Within a short time, all three pods were seen with the salmon draped across their heads.

But as soon as the behavior appeared, it vanished. It was not until October 2024 that the Southern Resident orcas were seen wearing salmon hats once again. While it is likely that pod members learned the behavior from one another and passed it down to younger generations, why salmon hats are so popular among Southern Resident orcas remains a mystery, according to Giles, who is also a biologist at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories.

“These are incredibly smart animals,” Giles explains to National Geographic. “The paralimbic portion of their brain is significantly more developed than it is even in humans, and these are parts of their brains that are associated with memory, emotion, and language.”

But in the end, Giles admits, “It’s all speculation. We don’t know.”

In Fall 2024, it seems like Chinook salmon were abundant for the first time in many years. Therefore, it is believed that the Southern Resident orcas could simply be playing with their food, since they did not have to work as hard to catch it. Whether this theory is correct remains unknown.

Time May Be Running Out for Southern Resident Orcas

The Southern Resident orcas are a fascinating group of killer whales. Their behavior is unlike that of other orca populations, which is why scientists continue to study them to understand why they have such unique personalities. Unfortunately, with just three family groups—the J, K, and L pods—and a total of 73 Southern Resident orcas left, time may be running out to learn all there is to know about these orcas. There are several reasons the Southern Resident orcas have such a depleted population. Despite being protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, the whales continue to perish. This has to do with:

• Reduced quantity and quality of prey animals

• Pollutants leading to reproductive and respiratory problems

• Noise disturbance from ships getting ever closer to the feeding and breeding grounds

The initial decline in population occurred in the 1960s and 1970s before the orcas were protected and the Southern Resident killer whales were being captured for theme parks. Over the years after they were protected, the population soared to 94 individuals. But by the early 2000s, there were only 79. Today, that number has decreased further.

To help the population rebound, conservation groups have been working to increase the Chinook salmon population. This is the primary food source for the Southern Resident orcas. However, since the salmon are endangered themselves, this has proven problematic for the orcas. Consequently, dams are being removed, and waterways are being restored to allow for the traditional spawning and migration of Chinook salmon. While there is more to be done to save the Southern Resident orcas, increasing the amount and quality of their primary food source will go a long way toward improving the health of the whales and, hopefully, allow them to reproduce and create the next generation of Southern Resident orcas.

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