A pair of orcas have been caught ‘kissing’ in the wild for the first time during a chance encounter with a group of citizen scientists off the coast of Norway.
A video taken by the group shows the pair nosing up together and ‘tongue nibbling’, where one whale gently mouths the other’s tongue.
While this kind of behaviour has been seen in captivity before, it’s the first time animals free-roaming in the wild have been observed doing it.
The footage was taken when the orcas were just 10 to 15m (30 to 50ft) away and shows a pair of adult whales coming in for three separate smooches over a two-minute window.
“This behaviour had been previously described only in orcas under human care,” Dr Javier Almunia from the Loro Parque Fundación, Spain, told BBC Science Focus. He was part of a team that recently published a study based on the video in the journal Ocean.
“Observing it in the wild suggests that these complex and subtle social behaviours are not limited to zoological environments and likely form part of the species’ natural social repertoire.”
Orcas are highly social creatures and use a rich and complex system of behaviours to build and navigate their social ties.
For marine biologists, observing these behaviours is critical to understanding how orcas interact with one another.
“Understanding social behaviour in wild animals is key to comprehending how they communicate, bond and cooperate – essential aspects for both their survival and welfare,” says Almunia.
Unfortunately, witnessing these behaviours in the wild can be difficult, dangerous and requires a lot of luck to be in the right place at the right time.
Although observing animals in captivity is safer and more convenient, their behaviour often differs significantly from how they act in the wild.
A chance encounter
The video was taken by a group of lucky snorkelers who were diving in the Kavænangen fjords of Northern Norway on 11 January 2024 when the two whales started canoodling.
The area is a known gathering spot for marine mammals, known as cetaceans, and the calm seas in the area make the water easier to see through, meaning it's an ideal place to observe orcas.
The group were watching the animals under the supervision of experienced expedition leaders, who ensured they disturbed the animals as little as possible.
However, the study was keen to point out that while tourist excursions to see whales and other cetaceans occasionally yield scientifically useful observations, stating “it is well established that tourism-based activities – such as whale watching and swim-with-cetaceans programmes – may pose significant risks to wild populations” if they don’t adhere to proper protocols.
Orcas are often referred to by their popular nickname ‘killer whales’, but this is something of a misnomer.
They're actually the largest member of the dolphin family. As all dolphins are ‘toothed whales’, the latter part of their nickname is at least accurate.
However, the killer part is less apt, as there have been very few cases of wild orcas intentionally harming humans.
The name seems to have come from ancient sailors, who witnessed orcas hunting down other large whales.
“They referred to them as ‘whale killers’, a term that over time evolved into ‘killer whales’,” says Almunia.
“While orcas are indeed apex predators, they are also highly intelligent and social creatures, with complex cultures and strong familial bonds. Orcas are simply fulfilling their role as top predators in the marine ecosystem.”
About our expert
Dr Javier Almunia is the director of Loro Parque Fundación, a Spanish organisation focused on preserving endangered parrots and marine species. He is an expert in cetacean bioacoustics and has worked on several projects to protect biodiversity and conserve endangered species.
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