Overview
- Researchers report the first peer-reviewed evidence of coordinated foraging between northern resident killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins targeting Chinook salmon near Vancouver Island.
- Using drones, suction-cup tags with cameras and hydrophones, and underwater video, the team recorded synchronized dives, close-proximity tracking, and altered vocal behavior.
- Whales reduced echolocation and appeared to follow dolphins on foraging dives, a pattern the authors interpret as possible eavesdropping on dolphin clicks to locate deep salmon.
- Eight salmon captures were documented during the study period, including prey sharing among whales while nearby dolphins scavenged scraps without signs of aggression.
- Authors propose mutual benefits such as energy savings for whales and food access plus protection for dolphins, though outside experts caution that alternatives like kleptoparasitism or simple tolerance remain plausible.