Scientists have recorded northern resident orcas and Pacific white-sided dolphins cooperating to hunt salmon off British Columbia — a behavior never documented before.
Drone footage, underwater video, and acoustic tags showed dolphins racing ahead as “scouts,” locating large Chinook salmon and leading the whales toward them. The orcas then made the kill at the surface, while the dolphins scavenged scraps. Remarkably, the whales showed no aggression, even though they usually guard fresh prey.
Recordings captured alternating echolocation clicks from both species, suggesting they may even be listening to each other’s sonar during deep dives to widen their search range.
Researchers ruled out simpler explanations like dolphins seeking protection or hydrodynamic advantages. Instead, the consistent pattern of dolphins leading and whales following points to true cross-species cooperation.
The team now aims to learn whether this partnership improves hunting success, noting that the behavior highlights the adaptability and intelligence of both dolphins and orcas.
