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In 2025 scientists watched killer whales tear off lengths of kelp and roll them between their bodies to groom one another — the first known tool made and shared by marine mammals.

Current Biology (2025)

NatureScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

Drone footage of southern resident orcas in the Salish Sea, off the US–Canada coast, revealed the behaviour researchers named 'allokelping.' A whale bites off a stalk of bull kelp and presses it against a partner, and the two roll it along their skin. Making a tool and using it on a companion is something very few animals are known to do.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

2025'te bilim insanları, katil balinaların yosun parçalarını koparıp birbirlerini tımar etmek için bedenleri arasında yuvarladığını izledi — deniz memelilerinin yaptığı ve paylaştığı bilinen ilk alet.
Current Biology (2025)

ABD-Kanada kıyısındaki Salish Denizi'nde yaşayan yerleşik orkaların dron görüntüleri, araştırmacıların 'allokelping' adını verdiği davranışı ortaya çıkardı. Bir balina bir boğa yosunu sapını ısırıp koparır, bir eşine bastırır ve ikisi onu derileri boyunca yuvarlar. Bir alet yapıp onu bir arkadaşı üzerinde kullanmak, çok az hayvanın yaptığı bilinen bir şeydir.

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Background reading: Killer whaleAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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