Orcas have been spotted with dead fish on their heads – a look researchers saw on their faces almost 40 years ago.
In recent weeks, images have emerged of orcas in Pudget Sound in the Pacific Northwest with salmon on their heads.
But this isn’t the first time the deadly whales have been spotted with their rather unique appearance.
In 1987, a female killer whale was spotted off the west coast of the US with a dead salmon on the top of her head.
The look seemed to catch on as other female whales started swimming around with their ‘fish hats’.
Their strange behavior had never been seen before and caught the attention of researchers who saw it as an example of a killer whale ‘craze’ as the action seemed to spread from killer whale to killer whale, despite serving no purpose.
However, the trend was short-lived and scientists wondered why the marine animals ever started carrying the fish in the first place.
Orcas have been spotted with dead fish on their heads
Researchers say their behavior could be linked to a higher population of salmon in the waters this year, and because they have an abundance of fish around them, it’s possible they’re saving them as a snack for later.
In 198, killer whales were first seen with fish on their heads
But now that salmon hats are back in fashion among the region’s orcas, researchers say it’s possible the same whales from 1987 are simply trying to relive their youth.
Other reasons for their behavior could be linked to a higher salmon population in the waters this year, and because they have an abundance of fish around them, it is possible that they will save them as a snack for later.
Images of the fashionable killer whales come after a family of enormous killer whales were captured on dystopian video after being spotted roaming the waters of Canada.
False Creek Ferries, a local ferry operator in the area, was traveling from the west side of downtown Vancouver to Kitsilano Beach when passengers were surprised by four surprise visitors: a 26-year-old orca mother and her three calves within just 3 meters of distance. from the boat.
“It was pretty surreal,” Jack Hemsworth, the ferry captain, told CityNews. “It was pretty crazy to see how big they really are because they were bigger than the boat.”
The video shared by the ferry company on social media captured the passing orcas – also known as Bigg’s killer whales – as they silently floated through the harbor past a row of tall buildings that served as a perfect backdrop.
Amazed passengers can be heard in the background in absolute awe of the stunning spectacle – ‘wow’ every time the capsule resurfaces.