Overview

• Researchers observed “allokelping,” where orcas detach bull kelp stalks and roll them between their bodies during mutual grooming sessions.
• High-resolution drone footage in the Salish Sea captured the behavior across males, females and all three southern resident pods.
• Scientists suggest tool-assisted grooming helps remove dead skin and parasites and may strengthen social bonds among whales.
• With fewer than 80 individuals remaining, the southern resident population faces declining Chinook salmon stocks and kelp forest losses from warming waters.
• Ongoing research will examine how whales acquire the technique and assess its role in social structure, skin health and conservation strategies.