Orcas craft hats from salmon, while whales use seaweed. Is this considered beautiful?

Researchers observing orcas have reported that they noticed and even photographed several individuals off the west coast of North America with dead salmon on their heads.

The salmon did not stick on their own accord. The orcas "wore" them intentionally and kept them on for quite a while – on average, about an hour – as if they were hats. This has puzzled scientists for the second time.

Salmon hats are back in fashion. Photo: Jim Pasola/myemail-api.constantcontact.com

Deborah Giles, a veteran observer and science director at the nonprofit organization Wild Orca, recalled encountering this extravagant "fashion" in nearly the same spot almost 40 years ago.

In 1997, one orca in a salmon hat was first spotted, and within a few weeks, several individuals were seen sporting similar headgear. By 1988, this "trend" had captivated the masses. However, it just as suddenly faded away.

“Perhaps the hats have some significance for the communities in which the orcas live, given that they display them. Maybe the animals believe that these "headpieces" enhance their appearance. Or perhaps they are simply what they seem – a quirky absurdity that entertains the orcas on some playful level. Or do the hats provide pleasant sensations?” scientists pondered back then. They are still puzzled now, suspecting that the same animals might be involved again. Why now? By the way, orcas live long lives – some up to 90 years.

Equally mysterious, but somewhat more understandable, is the similar fascination of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). They also don hats, but made of seaweed. Scientists first noticed these accessories in 2007. They were surprised but considered the phenomenon random and the observations rare.

A humpback whale in a seaweed hat. Photo: myemail-api.constantcontact.com

In less than 20 years, nearly all communities of humpback whales have embraced this "fashion trend." Headgear is now commonly observed among them. This was reported by researchers from Griffith University's Coastal and Marine Research Centre in Queensland, Australia, in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

The researchers analyzed nearly a hundred observations covering the northeastern Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic to the west and east coasts of Australia. They concluded that whales wear hats with pleasure, but likely not for aesthetic reasons.

The exact reasons remain unclear, but there are several possibilities.

Firstly, the whales may enjoy the sensation of the seaweed against their skin, especially around the head, which is particularly sensitive.

Secondly, seaweed has antimicrobial properties. Thus, it is possible that it serves as a preventive measure against infections.

Thirdly, seaweed also acts as an effective scrub for their skin. It has been observed that whales occasionally rub their hats against their fins. They could be scraping off parasites and barnacles from their skin.

Sometimes, in the absence of seaweed, whales use fishing nets.

It is likely that for hygiene purposes, humpbacks place seaweed on other parts of their bodies as well, although these bunches also resemble decorations.

Whales do not craft their hats. They find floating seaweed, dive under it, and lift their heads to wear it. The most popular type is kelp – large brown algae that grow along the shore in relatively shallow waters. However, if whales do not find what most use, they pick alternatives – some other types of seaweed.

Interestingly, whales also chew on kelp to clean their mouths.

Orcas, donning salmon on their heads, are unlikely to pursue the same goals as their humpback neighbors. However, there might still be practical reasons behind their actions. Scientists once observed that one orca ate its hat after wearing it for some time. This led to the hypothesis that the animals might be storing "treats" for a snack later, resembling dogs that hide bones in secret spots.

The hypothesis is complicated by the knowledge that orcas store food remnants under their pectoral fins. Why also on their heads? Perhaps the animals eat the hats not out of hunger, but simply to ensure "nothing goes to waste"?

It is also perplexing that the "fashion" for salmon – both now and in the late 80s – coincided with a period when the salmon population in the orcas' habitat significantly increased. The animals could easily have snacked without much effort.

This mystery continues to trouble scientists. They are equipping drones to observe the "fashionistas" with the firm intention of getting to the bottom of it.

Orcas attack yachts for fun. Photo: myemail-api.constantcontact.com

BY THE WAY

The International Whaling Commission has cleared orcas that have sunk several vessels

Since the beginning of 2020, there have been 673 recorded incidents of orca attacks – killer whales, as they are called in English-speaking countries, or scientifically Orcinus orca – on motor and sailing yachts. Some have sunk as a result. However, scientists have acknowledged that the animals bear no ill will towards humans. They are simply having fun – playing like small children. They get bored in the vast ocean. Details in our article.