Orcas wearing salmon “hats” off West Coast

[LateToCult 41,861]

Orcas off the coast of Washington State are balancing dead fish on their heads like it's the 1980s, but researchers still aren't sure why they do it.

….

Last month, scientists and whale watchers spotted orcas (Orcinus orca) in South Puget Sound and off Point No Point in Washington State swimming with dead fish on their heads.

This is the first time they've donned the bizarre headgear since the summer of 1987, when a trendsetting female West Coast orca kickstarted the behavior for no apparent reason. Within a couple of weeks, the rest of the pod had jumped on the bandwagon and turned salmon corpses into must-have fashion accessories, according to the marine conservation charity ORCA — but it's unclear whether the same will happen this time around.

Researchers think the orcas sporting salmon hats now may be veterans of the trend when it first appeared nearly 40 years ago. "It does seem possible that some individuals that experienced [the behavior] the first time around may have started it again," Andrew Foote, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Oslo in Norway, told New Scientist.

Full: https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/orcas-start-wearing-dead-salmon-hats-again-after-ditching-the-trend-for-37-years

Saw this story before bed and wanted to share. One of the world’s most fascinating and beautiful creatures. Will never forget randomly seeing a couple when I was taking a ferry to Bainbridge. 

[River 127,555]

fashion, put it on on me, don't you wanna see this salmon on me

 

orcas are the republicans of the sea though

[ALGAYDO 35,135]

These bloated dolphins need to calm the fúck down lol 

[Omar Vela 2,745]

"The salmon hats also have some kind of inscription that reads: Make Ocean Great Again" 

[Gagaism 12,471]

Their meat dress era which is a sign Gagz is coming for BLOOD 

[PartySick 172,545]

20 minutes ago, ALGAYDO said:

These bloated dolphins need to calm the fúck down lol 

They sink yachts, they need to calm the fúck up, actually

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,614]

Divas. Trendsetters. Icons. 

[Freud 5,989]

For everyone underwhelmed, to not see a picture of this - ur welcome:

(Allegedly this picture is from 1987, and it's been a "fashion trend" that reaccures now, no one can explain why)

[julz 8,048]

Gaga is taking notes i fear

[Decodekid 30,712]

Who is this SEAva 💜

[Ziggy 14,051]

6 hours ago, Freud said:

For everyone underwhelmed, to not see a picture of this - ur welcome:

(Allegedly this picture is from 1987, and it's been a "fashion trend" that reaccures now, no one can explain why)

Giving 20 yr fashion cycle the re-up

[Guest]

 

Fan-tas-tique, chic, freak, slaaaay!

[Killa 18,828]

Scientific article saying "Fad", please... The hell not!

[Glomer 734]

new Lana album 'Did You Know That There Are Orcas Wearing Salmon Hats In The West Coast?' dropping soon