Killer whales have been seen detaching lengths of seaweed and using them to massage each other—the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals. The whales bite off the end of a kelp stalk, ...

Orcas have long been revered for their intelligence, adaptability, and group-hunting strategies. But one scientific review spanning two decades has revealed a little-known, yet intriguing behavior.

Southern resident killer whales have been caught on drone video crafting kelp tools to groom one another—an unprecedented behavior among marine mammals. This suggests a deeper social and cultural ...

Scientists have spotted a subset of killer whales using seaweed to scratch each other’s backs, marking the first known identification of “tool” usage by marine mammals. The “southern resident” killer ...

A pod of four transient killer whales — including a calf — was spotted Sunday, May 10, 2025, swimming out of the Yaquina River toward the ocean. It’s the latest in a steady stream of orca sightings ...

The species Orcinus orca, generally known as orcas or killer whales, is made up of many genetically distinct populations called ecotypes. Each ecotype indicates an ecological specialization with its ...